FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
James McKeon
jmckeon@armscontrolcenter.org
202.546.0795 X 2617
Cell: 814.460.6943
Washington, D.C – Yesterday, an Associated Press article highlighted what appears to be a long-term enrichment research and development proposal submitted by Iran to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which was required by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Though some aspects of the article have since been changed, the original piece claimed that the document was a secret deal and quoted a critic of the agreement suggesting that it could lead to future conflict in the region.
John Tierney, a former nine-term Congressman and current Executive Director at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, commented:
“The supposed ‘secret deal’ is anything but secret. The JCPOA required Iran to submit this document to the IAEA and all negotiating partners have had access to its contents. Congress was also granted access to the substance of the document. Members of Congress labeling the document as ‘secret’ are simply distorting the facts.”
While the document outlines Iran’s plans to introduce more advanced centrifuges into its nuclear energy program after 10 years, critical restrictions on Iran’s nuclear material stockpile and enrichment will still be in place as part of the JCPOA, including caps on uranium enrichment and total uranium stockpiles.
Congressman Tierney added:
“The JCPOA makes clear that Iran can introduce advanced centrifuges after year 10 of the agreement. This has always been public knowledge. Other restrictions from the JCPOA will prevent Iran from producing the material necessary for a nuclear weapon, and permanent IAEA access to Iran’s nuclear facilities will enable continued monitoring and detection efforts, even after the most stringent restrictions of the agreement have expired.”
Read the Center’s factsheet to learn more about the situation.
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The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)3 non-profit, non-partisan research organization dedicated to enhancing international peace and security through fact-based policy analysis.
