WASHINGTON — The Biden Administration says that Iran was complying with the Iran Nuclear Deal before the prior administration removed the U.S. from the deal. However, Sen. Todd Young is not buying that Iran was compliant.
Former President Trump pulled out of the old Iran Nuclear Deal because he said there was evidence that Iran was not complying with the terms of the deal by continuing to enrich uranium. Because of this, the Trump administration imposed crippling sanctions on Iran.
The State Department’s special envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday and informed lawmakers that President Biden is working to re-enter the old Iran Nuclear Deal with hopes of building on a new, stronger deal.
But, Sen. Young pressed Malley on the administration’s position that Iran was compliant with the old deal.
“Iran was neither complying with the compliance terms of the JCPOA nor were they operating a carefully monitored nuclear program,” Young told Malley. “There were side deals that Congress was not aware of.”
Young cited a Wall Street Journal article that detailed Iran’s non-compliance with IAEA inspectors, which said that Iran mislead inspectors by withholding information about several nuclear sites.
“Does the JCPOA require Iran to allow IAEA inspectors in to look at certain nuclear sites, and did Iran comply with those expressed terms of the JCPOA,” Young asked Malley.
“Yes, and yes,” Malley replied. “Even the former administration had to certify that Iran was in compliance and it did so repeatedly until (Trump) decided to leave the deal.”
Malley did admit that Iran has a history of lying about its nuclear program.
But, Malley added that because the U.S. pulled out of the old deal, the U.S is in a weaker position to negotiate a newer and stronger deal, which is why he said the White House is trying to re-enter the previous deal.
Young remained adamant that Iran was never compliant with the Iran Nuclear Deal and cast serious doubt that they would be if the U.S were to rejoin.
