New York, NY - United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, made the following statement regarding the so-called "framework" agreement announced today in Vienna by Iran and the P5+1:
More and more, these negotiations are resembling the disastrous North Korean Agreed Framework, a so-called interim agreement that was continuously extended -- until the North Koreans tested a nuclear weapon. In this case Iran has received disproportionate economic relief and its economy has blossomed, while it continues to develop its industrial scale nuclear program.
The Obama administration must hold Iran to a time-certain deadline to reach a final nuclear accord, as it has pledged. Iran must clearly hear from the U.S. and its allies that the diplomatic clock is ticking, and that if no final nuclear accord is reached at the end of the six months, Iran will face the most crippling sanctions in history--culminating with a full economic blockade.
We respectfully call on the Obama administration to not repeat history as in the case of North Korea and allow Iran to use these negotiations to stall for more time, maintain sanctions relief, and continue to develop its uranium enrichment capabilities and heavy water reactor.
Since Iran President Hassan Rouhani's election, there have been eight meetings between the P5+1 and Iran on the nuclear issue. In November, the P5+1 and Iran announced the Geneva Joint Plan of Action, which outlined a six month term to reach a final nuclear accord. As President Obama said shortly afterwards: "if at the end of six months it turns out that we can't make a deal ... we have greater leverage with the international community to continue to apply sanctions and even strengthen them."
Today, one month into the interim deal, the P5+1 and Iran for the first time announced that they have agreed on what was to be negotiated. In fact, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said this week: "to us, what has been announced as dismantling Iran's program and facilities is not on the agenda."
Click here to view UANI's Geneva Interim Agreement Tracker.
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