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Sarbanes Statement on President Trump’s Decision to Decertify Iran Nuclear Deal

October 13, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) released the following statement today after President Donald Trump announced his decision not to certify compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA):

"President Trump's decision to decertify the Iran Nuclear Deal – absent evidence of any violations – will isolate us from our allies, weaken our standing in the world and undermine our credibility in future diplomatic efforts. That's why independent experts, Members of Congress in both parties and even high-level officials within the Trump Administration have warned against decertifying the deal.

"There is no question that Iran has continued its unacceptable behavior of expanding its ballistic missile program and financing international terrorism, but by all indications it has abided by the JCPOA – which aims to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. At a time of increased instability around the world, including rising tensions with nuclear-armed North Korea, the President should be working with Congress and our international partners on diplomatic efforts to crack down on Iran's ballistic missile program and its support for terrorism while preserving the agreement that prevents another hostile state from obtaining nuclear weapons. I call on my colleagues in Congress to put diplomacy first and not to follow President Trump down this dangerous path."

Congressman Sarbanes supported the JCPOA in 2015 on the grounds that it would prevent the unacceptable outcome of Iran developing nuclear weapons. Recently, Congressman Sarbanes voted to reauthorize the Iran Sanctions Act and to impose new sanctions on Iran for its ballistic missile program and for its support of international terrorism.

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