Barack Obama's Response To The US Withdrawal From The JCPOA

Read it. Every. Single. Word.

This withdrawal is a prelude to war.

There are few issues more important to the security of the United States than the potential spread of nuclear weapons, or the potential for even more destructive war in the Middle East. That’s why the United States negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in the first place.

The reality is clear. The JCPOA is working – that is a view shared by our European allies, independent experts, and the current U.S. Secretary of Defense. The JCPOA is in America’s interest – it has significantly rolled back Iran’s nuclear program. And the JCPOA is a model for what diplomacy can accomplish – its inspections and verification regime is precisely what the United States should be working to put in place with North Korea. Indeed, at a time when we are all rooting for diplomacy with North Korea to succeed, walking away from the JCPOA risks losing a deal that accomplishes – with Iran – the very outcome that we are pursuing with the North Koreans.

That is why today’s announcement is so misguided. Walking away from the JCPOA turns our back on America’s closest allies, and an agreement that our country’s leading diplomats, scientists, and intelligence professionals negotiated. In a democracy, there will always be changes in policies and priorities from one Administration to the next. But the consistent flouting of agreements that our country is a party to risks eroding America’s credibility, and puts us at odds with the world’s major powers.

Debates in our country should be informed by facts, especially debates that have proven to be divisive. So it’s important to review several facts about the JCPOA.

First, the JCPOA was not just an agreement between my Administration and the Iranian government. After years of building an international coalition that could impose crippling sanctions on Iran, we reached the JCPOA together with the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the European Union, Russia, China, and Iran. It is a multilateral arms control deal, unanimously endorsed by a United Nations Security Council Resolution.

Second, the JCPOA has worked in rolling back Iran’s nuclear program. For decades, Iran had steadily advanced its nuclear program, approaching the point where they could rapidly produce enough fissile material to build a bomb. The JCPOA put a lid on that breakout capacity. Since the JCPOA was implemented, Iran has destroyed the core of a reactor that could have produced weapons-grade plutonium; removed two-thirds of its centrifuges (over 13,000) and placed them under international monitoring; and eliminated 97 percent of its stockpile of enriched uranium – the raw materials necessary for a bomb. So by any measure, the JCPOA has imposed strict limitations on Iran's nuclear program and achieved real results.

Third, the JCPOA does not rely on trust – it is rooted in the most far-reaching inspections and verification regime ever negotiated in an arms control deal. Iran’s nuclear facilities are strictly monitored. International monitors also have access to Iran’s entire nuclear supply chain, so that we can catch them if they cheat. Without the JCPOA, this monitoring and inspections regime would go away.

Fourth, Iran is complying with the JCPOA. That was not simply the view of my Administration. The United States intelligence community has continued to find that Iran is meeting its responsibilities under the deal, and has reported as much to Congress. So have our closest allies, and the international agency responsible for verifying Iranian compliance – the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Fifth, the JCPOA does not expire. The prohibition on Iran ever obtaining a nuclear weapon is permanent. Some of the most important and intrusive inspections codified by the JCPOA are permanent. Even as some of the provisions in the JCPOA do become less strict with time, this won’t happen until ten, fifteen, twenty, or twenty-five years into the deal, so there is little reason to put those restrictions at risk today.

Finally, the JCPOA was never intended to solve all of our problems with Iran. We were clear-eyed that Iran engages in destabilizing behavior – including support for terrorism, and threats toward Israel and its neighbors. But that’s precisely why it was so important that we prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Every aspect of Iranian behavior that is troubling is far more dangerous if their nuclear program is unconstrained. Our ability to confront Iran’s destabilizing behavior – and to sustain a unity of purpose with our allies – is strengthened with the JCPOA, and weakened without it.

Because of these facts, I believe that the decision to put the JCPOA at risk without any Iranian violation of the deal is a serious mistake. Without the JCPOA, the United States could eventually be left with a losing choice between a nuclear-armed Iran or another war in the Middle East. We all know the dangers of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. It could embolden an already dangerous regime; threaten our friends with destruction; pose unacceptable dangers to America’s own security; and trigger an arms race in the world’s most dangerous region. If the constraints on Iran’s nuclear program under the JCPOA are lost, we could be hastening the day when we are faced with the choice between living with that threat, or going to war to prevent it.

In a dangerous world, America must be able to rely in part on strong, principled diplomacy to secure our country. We have been safer in the years since we achieved the JCPOA, thanks in part to the work of our diplomats, many members of Congress, and our allies. Going forward, I hope that Americans continue to speak out in support of the kind of strong, principled, fact-based, and unifying leadership that can best secure our country and uphold our responsibilities around the globe.

https://www.facebook.com/barackobama/posts/10155854913976749

 

I sincerely hope this is not a prelude to war. All should read it however.

 

Israel is the only ally that wanted the deal destroyed and it is the one country that would love to obliterate Iran (for semi-valid reasons, admittedly).

Israel, and more specifically the PowerPoint presentation that they made - in English - about Intel from 2003, is also part of the justification offered by Trump that Iran lied.

To be fair, Iran did lie about an intent and effort to build a nuclear weapon. But everyone and their mother knew Iran lied and decided that preventing Iran from actually obtaining a nuclear weapon was more important than forcing Iran to admit that they lied.

 

Pretty clear that current POTUS didn't take enough time to consider the deal for what it was after he came to conclusions about what it wasn't. All the stuff Obama says is verifiable.

 

What's odd about this is when Islamic terrorists were slaughtering our ambassador, other Americans and people throughout the world, Obama was telling us our biggest threat was global warming.

Obama is trying to save his legacy and not look like a fool.

 

The current POS is way to ignorant and stupid to have the capability of considering anything...period! He's a puppet...nothing more nothing less

 

Again you fail to see the nuance. Nothing in this world is black and white, the only colors that Trump sees. Obama makes no claim that he alone was responsible. In fact, he lists all the other countries who signed on to the deal. All the countries we turned our back on today.

 

Benghazi is and always has been a non issue.

Stop perpetuating nonsense.

 

Every ally, except Israel, and every US appointee charged with reviewing Iran's compliance with this deal agree that Iran was in compliance.

Trump just ****ed one of the most successful arms deals in world history.

Edit: Actually, that's not quite accurate because Israel also noted that Iran was in compliance. It is only Netanyahu who claimed otherwise.

 

Its working in the confines of its design (which is to protect and fun Iran's nuclear weapons development) but not in the concept it was sold on (preventing or marginally delaying Iran from finishing its nuclear weapons).

 

I challenge you to support any part of this post.

 

Congress voted against this deal and Obama went through with it anyway. Also, big corporations stood to make fortunes with having this deal go through and lobbied Obama to do it - with you guys being liberals and all, that alone should tell you something.

 

Part of the deal was to allow American companies to do business with Iran. That's now off the table. Guess who gets screwed? Yep, you and me.

As such, Boeing last year signed a $3 BILLION deal with Iran Aseman Airline for THIRTY 737 Max jets.

Three billion dollars. That's a lot, right?

... AND a $16.6 BILLION deal with Iran's national carrier Iran Air for an additional 80 aircraft.

That's $20 BILLION, for an American company.

That's federal tax revenue on $20 BILLION.

That's thousands of American jobs for decades to come, and all the tax revenue on those jobs.

That's millions, maybe billions, more in spare parts, maintenance, training, service contracts (and tariffs, taxes, and various fees).

And that's just ONE company.

All of which is now forfeit .

Way to go, Trump...

 

LOL, sore loser, please remind me, what's of Obama's legacy still left? Or is Trump completely done with him, just 15 months into his presidency?

 

Wellllllllllll . . . now we edge into the specialty stipulation that is an iron-clad rule for the Left; which is that it's NEVER wrong when a leftist does it . . . and doubly so when corrupt Barack Obama was involved in something distinctly shady. As for Obama howling about this; well, it's not as if much of his eight years long presidential legacy has survived the first two years of Trump's dynamic presidency. Naturally he is angry about this, and it may even have relatively little to do with his buddies in Iran no longer being inclined to continue paying him off for their sweet little 'deal'.

 

Nah, the Boeing stock hardly moved today and is still extremely close to its all time high. I guess the market consensus is not all that concerned and you crocodile tears are a total waste.

Oh and tax is not paid on revenue. See you've learned something new today.

 

One wonders how much of that Obama and Kerry and key leftists involved in the 'deal' were going to be getting back under the table as a kick back but that now isn't going to happen? No wonder Barack Obama is hopping mad!

 

Oh please. Most successful arms deals in World History? LOL.

Did you know that Iran announced in January that it intends to build a Nuclear Navy, and that it intends to build special military nuclear facilities design to facilitate that goal? Did you know that certain military facilities are off limits to inspections?

 

Dude, either your memory is very bad, or once again you making the BS as you go!!!

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-deal-survives-first-vote-in-congress/
The Iran nuclear deal survived, as a result of the Senate vote Thursday, when Democrats blocked the Republicans' resolution of disapproval.

 

Yes.

But even if your "well they could have violated the agreement in the future" argument was persuasive, Trump just made it more likely that Iran's completely legal use of the nuclear technology under the agreement will instead be used to create a nuclear weapon.

 

And today you learned that the stock price of a company does not actually yield the same federal tax dollars and jobs that would be created by a multi-billion dollar deal going into full effect.

 

You mean the big corporations that supposedly create jobs and create wealth for American citizens?

The horror.

Also Congress refused to enshrine the deal as an official treaty (something which was never offered), but they did not vote against the deal.

 

The stock price doesn't yield any tax dollars and does not create a single job. Jeez, do I have to teach you people everything?

The fact that the stock price did not move today shows that the deal is either not in jeopardy or is not worth all that much or both.

PS no need to thank me but do try to memorize the lesson.

 

How so?

Do you believe Iran intends to violate it's agreements with Germany, France, GB, etc.?

If so, simply because the US has changed course, how strong was this agreement?

 

The current POTUS has no intellect, so no amount of time would have helped him in this regard. He never should have been elected president. He is too mentally deficient and defective to hold that position.