Background on Iran
Nuclear Deal
February 8, 2016
Background: The United States and its international partners, known as the P5+1 are
negotiating with Iran over its nuclear program. The agreement will guard against Iran’s ability
to quickly or covertly build a nuclear bomb. In exchange, the P5+1 will, over time, grant relief
from sanctions that have crippled its economy.
Timeline – Nov. 2013 to the present
 In November 2013, Iran and the P5+1 (i.e., the permanent five members of the UN Security
Council: U.S., UK, Russia, China, France PLUS Germany) announced a Joint Plan of Action
(JPoA), or a framework agreement that ultimately seeks to ensure that Iran does not build a
nuclear weapon. The clock on the negotiations for a final deal officially began in January
2014.
 The parties are on track to conclude a comprehensive agreement by the end of March 2015
(a purely political deadline) with full details of the agreement likely taking until the end of
June (negotiated deadline).
 Since July 2014, the sides have extended the JPOA in order to bridge gaps to reach a final
agreement.
 Monthly IAEA reports state that Iran is complying with the JPOA.
 As part of the JPOA, the United States has suspended some sanctions, though billions of
dollars in Iranian oil revenue is still tied up in foreign banks.
Background on the Joint Plan of Action (JPOA)
 The JPOA required a) Iran to limit its ability to produce a nuclear weapon and b)
international powers to provide Iran with minor sanctions relief and peaceful nuclear energy
cooperation.
 Because of the JOPA, Iran’s paths to a bomb – through uranium enrichment and production
of plutonium – have been frozen in place and are being monitored by international
inspectors.
 In other words, Iran’s program is currently ‘locked in a box with a camera on it.’
Congressional action
As mentioned above, the comprehensive agreement will require the P5+1 to phase out
multilateral sanctions. It will also require the U.S. Congress to eventually pass legislation that
unwinds nuclear-related sanctions tied to other nations’ affairs with Iran. However, in the short
term, the President can use his waiver authority to lift sanctions in return for continued Iranian
compliance with a final deal. New sanctions at this time, or any Congressional intervention,
could blow up the negotiations because the Iranians would believe that the United States cannot
follow through on its promises.
Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND) & Women Legislators’ Lobby (WiLL)
Washington, DC Office | 322 4th Street NE | Washington, DC 20002 |202-544-5055
National Office | 691 Massachusetts Avenue | Arlington, MA 02476 | 781-643-6740
www.wand.org
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Talking Points: Iran
Nuclear Deal
February 8, 2016
Talking Points
Diplomacy is the Only Way to Prevent War
Iran and the international community are not negotiating because they are friends; they are
doing so because they realize that it is in everyone’s interest to avoid war. Iran will benefit from
sanction relief and the international community will be assured that Iran is not crossing the
threshold to becoming a nuclear-armed nation.
Without diplomacy, Iran could continue to grow its nuclear program and becoming closer to
building a bomb if it chooses. At that point, the US would have to make a determination to strike
Iran’s facilities, causing an even more extreme crisis than currently exists in the Middle East.
Conversely, with diplomacy Iran is farther away from building a nuclear weapon than it was a
year ago.
Congress Shouldn’t Meddle
If Congress passes any new legislation that leads to the end of negotiations, it will be held
responsible for the failure of diplomacy – and perhaps another war.
Some Members of Congress are threatening to blow up the negotiations by (1) enacting new
sanctions on Iran, a violation of the interim agreement (Joint Plan of Action) or (2) enacting a
bill that would require an approval of a deal after it is concluded.
The Iranians and our allies and negotiating partners, including Russia and China, would blame
the United States if the talks fail after Congress passes deal-killing legislation.
Contrary to the assertion of most proponents of sanctions that it would yield a better end deal,
the truth is quite different:
o Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR): “The end of these negotiations isn’t an unintended
consequence of congressional action. It is very much an intended consequence, a
feature, not a bug, so to speak.” [01/13/15]
If diplomacy fails, Iraq-style regime change is the only option left to prevent Iran
from obtaining a nuclear weapon. If diplomacy fails:
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

Iran’s nuclear program would be unfrozen and daily monitoring would cease.
Iran would be closer to building a nuclear weapon.
We get boots on the ground, instead of inspectors on the ground.
Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND) & Women Legislators’ Lobby (WiLL)
Washington, DC Office | 322 4th Street NE | Washington, DC 20002 |202-544-5055
National Office | 691 Massachusetts Avenue | Arlington, MA 02476 | 781-643-6740
www.wand.org
Page 1