JINSA in the American Interest
Is The Iranian Interim Deal Working?
JINSA’s Gemunder Center Iran Task Force
Is The Iranian Interim Deal Working?
JINSA’s Gemunder Center Iran Task Force
More than three months since the implementation of the interim deal with Iran over its nuclear program, formally known as the Joint Plan of Action (JPA), it’s important to take a step back and assess the impact of the agreement. Evidence suggests the JPA has pushed back Iran’s breakout timing by nearly one month. However, that benefit is more than offset by provisions that allow Iran to enrich uranium more rapidly than before the deal, that steadily reduce the pressure on Tehran from sanctions, and that fail to resolve international concerns about Iran’s weaponization activities. As a result, in our judgment the JPA is not making a comprehensive agreement on Iran’s nuclear program more likely to be achieved.
Considering how close the Iranian regime remains to nuclear weapons capability, we believe it is critically important to gauge the effectiveness of the interim deal in the wake of February and April 2014 IAEA reports on Iran’s nuclear program. We frame our assessment according to six principles, listed individually below, to which we believe any deal with Iran must conform to protect U.S. national security interests.