The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), and the People’s Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI / MEK Iran), reported that the Iranian leaders were looking forward to the new US administration taking over from that of former President Donald Trump.

The Iranian regime wants sanctions relief and less pressure

Even before taking office, President Joe Biden had expressed his interest in the United States re-joining the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or Iran nuclear deal as it is known. The Iranian regime was pinning its hopes on this, looking forward to sanctions relief and less pressure.

However, it looks like things are not moving in the direction the regime hoped. US lawmakers are calling on the administration to put further pressure on the regime faced with its continued belligerence.

Member of the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaul and Democratic representative of Congress from New Jersey Josh Gottheimer wrote a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling on the administration to work towards an improved and more complete and thorough agreement with Iran.

 

 

Advance ballistic missile program and expand terrorism

In their letter, they said that the deal, as it stands, does not and has never “sufficiently” ensured that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon. Rather, the agreement gave the Iranian regime access to huge funds through sanctions relief that it “continued to use to advance its ballistic missile program and expand its support for terrorism”. Iran, in exchange, only had to limit certain aspects of its nuclear program on a temporary basis.

The lawmakers advised that several provisions in the nuclear deal must be improved, in particular, the “sunset clauses” that “could result in Iran rushing to obtain a nuclear weapon once the deal expires”. They said that unless there are any changes made to the deal, there will be 5 years before Iran can scale up its nuclear program to industrial levels.

 

 

Iran’s ballistic missiles and its destabilizing activities across the region

With regards to what is missing from the nuclear deal, the lawmakers said that Iran’s non-nuclear activities must be taken into account.

These activities include Iran’s ballistic missiles and its destabilizing activities across the region, including its transfer of weapons to proxies and terrorist groups.

Also of concern is the regime’s “gross human rights abuses and violations” and its habit of taking the US and other foreign citizens hostage. Its “illicit and deceptive financial practices” were also mentioned.

 

 

Violations of the nuclear agreement

The lawmakers also drew attention to the regime’s violations of the nuclear agreement, emphasizing that Iran has abandoned its commitments on a number of occasions. These violations include the development of centrifuges and research that has been carried out.

The letter also calls on the US administration to ensure that Iran, the “world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism”, is held accountable for its undermining of peace and stability in the regime and its nuclear enrichment.

 

 

Prevent Iran from being nuclear-armed

The lawmakers emphasized that the goal is to prevent Iran from being nuclear-armed, to inhibit its ballistic missile capabilities, and to put a stop to “Iran’s threats” to the United States and its regional allies.

The letter has bipartisan support and was signed by 12 Democrats and 12 Republicans, indicating that both sides agree the administration needs to toughen policy towards Iran.

 

 

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