WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after U.S. and international negotiators announced a preliminary framework regarding a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear program, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement:

“High-stakes diplomacy can be long and painstaking work.  But if it results in a successful outcome that would effectively prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, it will be well worth the effort. 

“While serious challenges remain and there is still a long way to go, the details for a final implementation agreement may be within sight.  As long as the negotiating window remains open all parties involved have a responsibility to keep at it.

“I encourage negotiators to be as transparent as possible: the more people know about this framework, the more confidence they’ll have that a comprehensive and sustainable agreement can be reached to make our nation and the region safer and more secure.  And transparency will be key to any final agreement, because it will have to include strong, verifiable inspections. 

“Even as talks continue, we must hold Iran accountable on its nuclear program.  The Iranian regime will have to earn sanctions relief through faithful and consistent compliance.

“Congress should allow the hard work of diplomacy to continue and not try to derail the next steps in the negotiation.  We should not give Iran an excuse to walk away or fracture the international coalition.

“Those who would thwart diplomacy or undermine the talks should remember that failure could come at a steep price for our troops and national security.  Some of the loudest critics of diplomacy with Iran today wrongly backed a rush to war with Iraq, which ended up empowering Tehran and strengthening their hand in the region.  We can’t afford to repeat the mistakes of the past.” 

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