Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Statement on Republican Attempt to Kill Iran Nuclear Deal

Press Release

Today, the co-chairs of the Progressive Caucus, Reps. Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), released the following statement after Republicans in Congress passed legislation that would stop the Iran nuclear deal from going into effect:

"The Iran Terror Finance Transparency Act is a last ditch effort by Republicans to undermine a critical diplomatic success just days after its final implementation. The bill prevents the United States from fulfilling its commitments in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), undoing years of negotiations that will prevent Iran from building a nuclear weapon, and permanently damaging our diplomatic credibility with other nations.

"The JCPOA is a win for all people who value peace over conflict and diplomacy over war. It is already reducing Iran's capacity to produce a nuclear weapon as they have removed centrifuges, decommissioned their heavy-water reactor and shipped away low-enriched uranium. We have said this before, and we repeat it again now: this is a good deal.

"While the Obama Administration worked tirelessly with our P5+1 partners to forge the JCPOA, Republicans spent the last two years trying to kill the deal. They asked for a straight up-or-down vote, and they got it. They lost. Now they've stooped so low as this disingenuous effort to keep us from upholding our end of the deal. It should go without saying that reneging on these negotiations would have consequences far beyond the petty political points the GOP is seeking: when it comes to Iran, our options are either peace or war, and this bill undermines peace.

"Unfortunately, Speaker Ryan is showing us that he intends to follow his predecessor's footsteps by wasting time with unnecessary, meaningless votes. We would rather be helping working families.

"The CPC is proud to support the JCPOA and stand with the President against attempts to kill it. And as long as Republicans insist on attacking this deal, we will be proud to choose peace and diplomacy over war."

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