Reaching an Acceptable Nuclear Agreement with Iran

Despite the threat that Iran will continue to pose, a deal that meets specific criteria offers the most effective pathway to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

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Idea of the Day

Idea of the Day

In weighing whether or not a final, comprehensive agreement supports U.S. interests and security concerns, Congress should measure the deal against the following five criteria, which CAP previously laid out in April:

Does it cut off all of Iran’s pathways to a nuclear weapon, including through uranium enrichment at the Fordow and Natanz facilities, plutonium production at Arak, and a covert program?
Is the agreement verifiable through a rigorous international inspections regime of Iran’s entire nuclear supply chain and facilities?
Is international sanctions relief tied to a clear demonstration of Iran fulfilling its commitments in a deal, and can sanctions be put back in place swiftly without being unilaterally blocked by China or Russia?
Does it allow the United States the continued ability to counter Iranian support for terrorism or human rights abuses?
Does it keep all U.S. options on the table to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon?

For more on this idea, please see:

5 Criteria for a Nuclear Agreement with Iran by Vikram Singh, Shlomo Brom, and Ken Sofer

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