UANI Statement on the One-Year Anniversary of the U.S. Withdrawal from the Iran Nuclear Deal and Imposition of New Sanctions

(New York, N.Y.) – United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) Chairman Senator Joseph I. Lieberman and Chief Executive Officer Ambassador Mark D. Wallace released the following joint statement today on the one-year anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, and the announcement of new sanctions against Iran’s industrial metal sectors:

“President Trump made the correct decision one year ago today when he decided to withdraw from the JCPOA. The Administration’s actions since then, including implementing some of the toughest economic sanctions on record and designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, have weakened the regime economically and slowed its ability to finance terror proxies. The maximum pressure campaign is working – making the world a safer place.

“UANI also applauds the Trump Administration’s imposition of new sanctions targeting Iran’s key industrial metals: iron, steel, aluminum and copper. The mining and metals industry accounts for 10 percent of Iran’s export economy, more than 6 percent of GDP, and comprises 21% of the total capitalization on the Tehran Stock Exchange. Restricting Iran’s ability to trade and access foreign capital is the most important factor in forcing Iran into compliance with international law and norms, including a full rejection of terrorism and the permanent and verifiable abandonment of its nuclear ambitions.

“UANI has long opposed the Iran nuclear deal, because it has been and continues to be an abject failure. The regime has cheated on its commitments, has failed to meet basic standards set by inter-governmental bodies like the Financial Action Task Force and has proven itself unwilling to demonstrate compliance with the 12 basic measures set by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last year. Until Iran is willing to change its malign behavior, it should remain isolated and under pressure.

“Rather than trying to save a failed agreement, the international community should support a winning strategy that is showing concrete results.”