Iran Deal: The Fight Isn't Over

The one year anniversary of the Iran nuclear agreement

One year ago today, we witnessed history unfold before our very eyes with the landmark nuclear deal between Iran, the US and other world powers. It stopped Iran from building a bomb without a single shot being fired.

Most importantly, the agreement — the strongest nuclear accord in a generation — is working.

Under the deal, Iran has ripped out two-thirds of its centrifuges, poured concrete into its plutonium reactor, shipped out tons of enriched uranium, and accepted tough new inspections.

The historic deal has made America safer, and it has made the world safer. And, contrary to claims made by the deal's opponents, it has not put Israel at risk. But don't take it from us. Israel's last defense minister, Moshe Ya'alon, recently said that Iran's nuclear program "has been frozen in light of the deal signed by the world powers and does not constitute an immediate, existential threat for Israel."

Our powerful network of grantees was vital to our five-year campaign for a diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear crisis. Their unwavering dedication made a real difference — the difference between war and peace.

Grantees like Erica Fein of Women's Action for New Directions (WAND), Barbara Slavin of the Atlantic Council and Kate Gould of Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), who recently gave an excellent presentation on the deal's achievements after one year; Trita Parsi, President of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), who this week wrote in Foreign Affairs about the deal; and the Iran Project, which on Monday sent a letter signed by 75 national security leaders to President Obama praising the deal and urging him to build on its success before he leaves office.

The Iran deal was the most significant victory in our ongoing efforts to prevent Iran from becoming the world's 10th nuclear-armed state. But we can't let our guard down. The opposition is not giving up. In fact, we have already seen attempts to sabotage the deal, the latest of which is underway right now.

We must make sure the deal survives, even when under constant attack.

To that end, we are prepared to protect this nuclear policy triumph in the months and years to come. With our supporters and grantees by our side we know we will succeed — no matter who takes up residence in the White House.

 

 

Photo: Secretary of State John F. Kerry, left, and James Timbie, during the Iran nuclear negotiations in Lausanne, Switzerland, 2015. A State Department veteran, Timbie advised negotiators on the science behind nuclear weapons. He worked on "every arms-control agreement since the Nixon administration," including most recently, the Iran nuclear agreement. Photo credit: Glen Johnson/State Department.