U.S. House of Representative Democrats are circulating a letter throughout the Democratic caucus in support of Biden returning to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or Iran nuclear deal, with no preconditions, in an attempt to eliminate any opposition Joe Biden might receive in the House.
“We strongly endorse your call for Iran to return to strict compliance with the nuclear deal, the United States to rejoin the agreement, and subsequent follow-on negotiations,” reads the letter which circulated social media.
Representatives Shakowsky, Price, and Lee started circulating the letter Wednesday, and several formerly pro-Israel Representatives have joined in the effort including Representative Sherman, Spanberger, Meeks, and Castro.
Last week, Biden announced that he aims to pursue reentry into the deal with Iran, which President Trump exited in 2018, and plans to renegotiate agreements with Iran following the deal’s revival.
“In consultation with our allies and partners, we’re going to engage in negotiations and follow-on agreements to tighten and lengthen Iran’s nuclear constraints, as well as address the missile program,” said Biden in an interview with the New York Times.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif claims Iran will fully comply with the Iran Deal if no renegotiations of the existing deal were made and there is some guarantee that the U.S. will not withdraw from the deal.
“The U.S. must implement without preconditions its obligations under the JCPOA. It has to show its good faith, it has to establish its bona fides, then Iran will go back in full compliance with JCPOA,” said Zarif.
The Democrats’ support for rejoining of the deal without preconditions directly opposes the wishes of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), supporters of center-right pro-Israel policies and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“During the JCPOA, Iran fomented terror around the world, armed and equipped terror groups and took U.S. servicemembers hostage. Use the leverage achieved through sanctions to reach a broad new deal that addresses Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and regional aggression,” tweeted AIPAC.
