JINSA CEO Quoted in Washington Post on Iran’s Alleged Cheating
Administration tries to hide Iran’s alleged cheating
By Jennifer Rubin
Administration tries to hide Iran’s alleged cheating
By Jennifer Rubin
We have already seen allegations that Iran was cheating on its existing commitments, although the administration continued to insist it was fully complying with the interim agreement. We knew Iran was still refusing to allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors full access to its facilities. And we knew Iran had categorically refused to disclose the contours of its previous alleged nuclear weapons program, making it impossible for us even to know where to send inspectors. Now, the Iranians may have been caught red-handed trying to buy parts for their reactor at Arak.
The administration has been keeping the cheating allegation under its hat — no doubt concerned that Congress would demand answers, vote for more sanctions and perhaps put an end to talks. Foreign Policy reports:
The American allegations, which have never before been reported, come more than a year after the Iranian government pledged as part of an interim agreement with the United States and other big powers to scale back Iran’s most controversial nuclear-related activities, including the enrichment of high-grade uranium, in exchange for billions of dollars in sanctions relief. They stand in stark contrast to recent remarks by Secretary of State John Kerry, who has repeatedly credited Tehran with abiding by the terms of the November 2013 pact, which bound Tehran to suspend some of its work at Arak. “Iran has held up its end of the bargain,” Kerry said last month in Vienna as he announced a seven-month extension of the timetable for big-power talks.
The allegation is also sure to add to the mounting congressional unease over the administration’s ongoing talks with Tehran. Many lawmakers from both parties believe that the White House is making too many concessions to Tehran to cement a deal that it sees as central to the president’s legacy.
Iran experts note that since the actual text of the interim agreement has never been released publicly (!), we do not know what technical requirements may be implicated. But we certainly know that if these allegations are true, Iran continues to violate multiple United Nations resolutions.