McCaul-led effort aims to prohibit nuclear weapons in Iran

U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Michael McCaul (R-TX) led a bipartisan contingent of almost two dozen congressmen in seeking to ensure that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon.

“We urge you to work with our allies and consult with Congress in a bipartisan and bicameral fashion to outline a better, comprehensive deal with Iran that would block its path to a nuclear weapon and blunt its global malign activities,” wrote Rep. McCaul and his colleagues in a March 11 letter sent to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “This would help preserve the security and interests of the United States and our allies, including Israel.”

Among the members who joined Rep. McCaul in signing the letter were U.S. Reps. John Katko (R-NY), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Brain Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Tom Reed (R-NY), and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ).

The members highlighted provisions of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between the P5+1 and Iran that they think must be improved upon, as well as Iran’s recent violations of that deal, according to their letter.

For instance, Rep. McCaul and the members pointed out that in recent years, Iran directly attacked U.S. troops in Iraq, damaged oil tankers in the Gulf, fired cruise missiles against American allies, and maintained support of terrorist intent on destroying Israel. “Iran has not ceased its destructive behavior since the implementation of the JCPOA. We believe a better deal will improve security in the region,” wrote Rep. McCaul and the lawmakers. 

Numerous provisions of the JCPOA should be improved, specifically various “sunset clauses” that could result in Iran rushing to obtain a nuclear weapon once the deal expires, according to their letter. 

“Absent any changes, the agreement would have less than five years before Iran is able to ramp up its nuclear program to industrial scale,” the congressmen wrote. 

A new deal also must provide the International Atomic Energy Agency with access to all nuclear sites, according to their letter.

“We share the goal of preventing a nuclear armed Iran, inhibiting its ballistic missiles capabilities, and ending Iran’s threats to the United States and our regional allies, including Israel,” Rep. McCaul and his colleagues wrote. “We are eager to work with you on this important foreign policy issue and look forward to consultations soon.”