Preventing Iran
from Getting a
Nuclear Weapon
The United States brought the world together to negotiate the most comprehensive and restrictive nuclear agreement in history — to prevent Iran now and in the future from ever getting a nuclear bomb.
THE DEAL IS WORKING.
Top general says Iran complying with nuclear deal
The Hill, Sep. 26, 2017
Iran complying with nuclear deal, IAEA says
CBS News, Nov. 13, 2017
Despite Faults, Iran Nuclear Deal Works, Israeli Military Chief Tells Haaretz
Haaretz, Mar. 30, 2018
“Top general says Iran complying with
nuclear deal”
The Hill, Sep. 26, 2017
“Iran complying with nuclear deal,
IAEA says”
CBS News, Nov. 13, 2017
“Despite Faults, Iran Nuclear Deal Works,
Israeli Military Chief Tells Haaretz”
Haaretz, Mar. 30, 2018
But today, this historic agreement is in danger. The United States is threatening to go back on its commitment and pull out of the agreement.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE DEAL FALLS APART?
“This agreement represents our best chance to stop an Iranian bomb without another war in the Middle East.”
— Former Republican Sen. Richard Lugar
“It makes sense to me that our holding up agreements that we have signed, unless there’s a material breach, would have an impact on others’ willingness to sign agreements.”
— Gen. Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
United States Senate, Transcript, Sep. 26, 2017
“This agreement represents the best chance to make sure Iran never obtains a weapon and the best chance for Congress to support American diplomacy — without taking any options off the table for this or future presidents.”
— Brig. Gen. Shlomo Brom (Ret.), Former Director of the Strategic Planning Division of the Israeli Defense Forces
About the Iran
Nuclear Deal
Also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)
The most comprehensive nuclear restrictions ever negotiated to prevent a nuclear bomb
159 pages controlling Iran's nuclear program
Start date: January 16, 2016
Around-the-clock, on-the-ground monitoring for all activities
No expiration date on the most stringent inspections- eyes and ears on the ground in perpetuity
Verification via the most advanced technology anywhere in the world
As a result:
Nuclear sanctions suspended
U.S. trade embargo, terrorism and missile sanctions remain in place
“Don't trust...And verify, verify, verify.”
— Ernest J. Moniz, Former U.S. Energy Secretary
Key restrictions
are permanent
and never sunset
Iran can never seek, develop or acquire nuclear weapons
Iran is prohibited from weaponization activities
Iran is bound by the most intrusive inspection regime in the world
The IAEA may conduct inspections at any site within 24 days
Iran must notify the IAEA immediately if the decision is made to construct any nuclear facility
Iran can't produce and stockpile plutonium
Over time, certain restrictions are lifted, but
Essential verification
and monitoring
never ends
2041
IAEA monitoring of all uranium mines and mills
2036
International monitoring of the production, assembly and storage of machines used to enrich uranium
2031
Production and storage limitations
- 300 kg max of uranium, enriched only up to 3.67%
- 130 tonnes heavy water
- Zero plutonium separation or affiliated facilities
- Zero uranium or plutonium metal acquisition or research
- 1 site for uranium enrichment or enrichment R&D
- Daily inspections
- Zero uranium enrichment or related R&D at Fordow
- Daily inspections
- Zero hot cells at unapproved sites
2026
Permission to operate only 5,060 first-generation centrifuges
- Nearly 75% decrease in centrifuges from the peak of Iran’s nuclear program
2014
20,000
2016
5,060
Severe reduction in R&D of more advanced centrifuges
Swift and
significant
consequences
if Iran cheats or does not comply
The Joint Commission
Permanently in force to monitor progress and resolve disputes
The United States
Can snap back international sanctions immediately
Iran rolled back
their nuclear
program
to get nuclear sanctions relief
Centrifuges: 2/3 dismantled or removed
Central unit of the planned research reactor: Removed and filled with concrete
If allowed to be completed, it could have produced enough plutonium for 1-2 bombs/year
Remaining uranium: Removed and downblended
As a result:
Iran's timeframe to accumulate enough enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon went from weeks to one year
Even within one year, activities would be highly visible and detectable
No restrictions on the United States’ ability to confront Iran’s dangerous regional actions
The United States
had a lead role
in negotiations
working with a strong global coalition
United Kingdom
France
Germany
Russia
China
European Union
The agreement
was reached after many years of hard work
Endorsed by the UN Security Council
Supported and enforced by countries around the world
“If fully implemented, the JCPOA will create a wider gap between peaceful nuclear energy and nuclear weapons development than I had thought possible.”
— Siegfried Hecker, former director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory
“The JCPOA addresses one of the principal threats that we deal with from Iran, so if the JCPOA goes away, then we will have to have another way to deal with their nuclear weapons program.”
— Gen. Joseph Votel, Commander of the U.S. Central Command
Without
the deal
unprecedented access and information about Iran's nuclear activities would be lost
“The JCPOA is a substantial gain for verification, because the combination of the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, Additional Protocol and additional transparency measures represents the most robust verification system in existence anywhere in the world.”
— Yukiya Amano, IAEA Director General
In 2017
3,000
calendar days/year spent by IAEA inspectors at multiple Iranian sites
2,000+
tamper-proof seals installed on nuclear material and equipment
1.2M
documents collected/month
IAEA visits since Jan. 17, 2016
190
buildings
60
short notice
As noted in a speech by IAEA Dir. Gen. Yukiya Amano, Mar. 5, 2018
89%
increase in facility surveillance cameras as of 2017
152%
increase in verification activities by IAEA inspectors
“Our inspectors are on the ground 24/7. We also monitor Iran’s nuclear facilities and centrifuge manufacturing and testing locations. … We have regular access to more locations under the Additional Protocol, which has also provided the agency with more information about Iran’s nuclear programme.”
— Yukiya Amano, IAEA Director General
With the deal
The United States can confront Iran's dangerous regional actions:
Supporting Hezbollah and terrorist proxy groups
Providing arms, funding and personnel to the Assad regime in Syria and rebels in Yemen
Violating human rights
Pursuing ballistic missile development, in defiance of UN resolutions
The United States brought the world together to prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb, and it must meet its commitments or risk isolation from allies and partners, including the United Kingdom, Germany and France. As the U.S. meets its obligations under the deal, the world must ensure that Iran does too, with vigorous enforcement and verification.
“Without an agreement, Iran will be free to act as it wishes, whereas the sanctions regime against it will crumble in any case… if the nuclear issue is of cardinal existential importance, what is the point of cancelling an agreement that distances Iran from the bomb?”
— Efraim Halevy, former Director of the Mossad, former head of the Israeli National Security Council
The Iran Deal is
essential to
global security
Support from
across the
political spectrum
military leaders, nuclear weapons experts and our allies and partners around the world
National Coalition to Prevent an Iranian Nuclear Weapon, "Keep the Iran Deal — 10 Good Reasons Why," Mar. 2018
Richard L. Garwin, et. al, Letter to President-Elect Trump, Jan. 1, 2017
Maj. Gen. (ret.) Dr, Yitzhak Arad, et. al, Statement in Favor of Preserving Iran Nuclear Agreement, Apr. 26, 2018
The Iran deal — the most comprehensive and restrictive nuclear agreement in history, preventing a nuclear-armed Iran
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