Secretary of State John Kerry will appear today before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to discuss the controversial Iran nuclear deal. Because Hillary Clinton is said to “own” the Iran deal, it is worth reviewing some provisions Clinton has supported that are now being challenged.
Inspections are emerging as one of the most significant concerns surrounding the deal. Clinton, in April, called for an “intrusive inspection program with no sites off limits,” and last week said the deal included “unyielding verification.” But the inspection provisions in the deal are now under fire for being inadequate:
The Obama administration’s claim that the Iran nuclear accord provides for airtight verification procedures is coming under challenge from nuclear experts with long experience in monitoring Tehran’s program. … [S]everal experts, including a former high-ranking official at the International Atomic Energy Agency, said a provision that gives Iran up to 24 days to grant access to inspectors might enable it to escape detection.
Clinton claimed the nuclear agreement “can make the United States, Israel, and our Arab partners safer,” adding later in her statement that the US must be “clear-eyed” about “the broader threat Iran represents.” But Clinton has not been clear-eyed about the nuclear agreement she is supporting – the very agreement Clinton claimed can make America safer is said to free up over $100 billion for Iran. The unsettling belief that Iran will use these funds, in part, for terrorism is widespread.
The Washington Post: Its most immediate effect will be to provide Tehran with up to $150 billion in fresh assets from sanctions relief over the next year, funds that its leaders will probably use to revive the domestic economy but also to finance wars and terrorist groups in Iraq, Syria, the Gaza Strip, Yemen and elsewhere.
A Wall Street Journal report: Iran will uphold its anti-American policies and continue to support regional allies inimical to Western interests, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Saturday
Despite Clinton’s rhetoric, this nuclear deal is facing serious questions from experts and given the lack of resounding support on Capitol Hill, it is only likely to get worse.