by Ilan Berman Al-Hurra Digital October 18, 2017 Trump Takes Aim At The IRGC You wouldn't know it from the media coverage surrounding President Trump's  October 13th speech  on Iran, but the most notable element of the Administration's new, "comprehensive" strategy toward the Islamic Republic isn't its plan to revisit the 2015 nuclear deal formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Of course, President Trump's decision to formally "decertify" that agreement should have come as a surprise to no one. During last year's presidential election, candidate Trump campaigned heavily on his opposition to the Obama administration's signature foreign policy achievement. And, since taking office in January, Mr. Trump has consistently maintained that the deal concluded two years ago between Iran and the P5+1 powers—the U.S., UK, Russia, China, France and Germany—is deeply damaging to American national security interests...

A reasonable approach to the Iran deal I vigorously opposed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) because I believed then — as I believe now — that the Obama administration, in its desperation for a legacy-creating deal, negotiated a weaker deal than we could have obtained. The JCPOA did not deliver anywhere/anytime inspections as promised or constrain Iran’s ballistic missile program. The JCPOA provided sanctions relief up-front and contains a highly troubling sunset clause. Nevertheless, the agreement is in place now, and the question is whether to stay in or exit. Circumstances have undeniably changed, both because of the new president and the operation of the deal itself. Here I part company with many who opposed the deal and now want the United States to exit. Both supporters and opponents of the original deal rightly point out the unworkability of a U.S. withdrawal. I would not recommend pulling out of the deal now — not when the International Atomi...

Nuclear Agreement with Iran Has Not Contributed to Peace or Security The Trump White House has been a  purveyor  of very well-founded criticism of the 2015 Iran  nuclear deal , formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Countering the narrative about the agreement curtailing progress toward a nuclear weapon, administration officials  contend  that the JCPOA actually paves Iran’s way toward becoming a nuclear power. But this is not the sole or even the primary focus of the criticism, nor should it be. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and UN Ambassador Nikki Haley have instead focused on the broader intentions behind the JCPOA, as outlined in its preamble, which  states that the signatories “anticipate that full implementation of this JCPOA will positively contribute to regional and international peace and security.” Nearly 22 months after the deal was implemented, this has not come to pass. Quite the contrary, the Islamic ...

Iran's People And The Nuclear Deal Discussions are continuing as we speak over the fate of the highly controversial Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Advocates and opponents are going the limits to present their case prior to the October 15 th  deadline when US President Donald Trump is due to determine the status of Iran’s compliance with the accord. While this is a very important discussion, what unfortunately goes neglected is the status of the Iranian people who should be the first beneficiaries of such an accord that led to many sanctions being lifted from the Iranian regime. The ruling elite in Tehran have usurped the billions provided by the Obama administration in cash, waivers and sanctions reliefs to boost their ballistic missile program in violation of UN Security Council resolutions, prop up the Assad regime in Syria and its continuous killings of innocent people, and escalate their lethal meddling across the...

Video: Iranian People And The Nuclear Deal Demonstrators shout slogans against Iranian President Hassan Rouhani near the United Nations headquarters in New York on September 19, 2017 Heshmat Alavi Forbes, September 29, 2017  - Discussions are continuing as we speak over the fate of the highly controversial Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Advocates and opponents are going the limits to present their case prior to the October 15th deadline when US President Donald Trump is due to determine the status of Iran’s compliance with the accord. While this is a very important discussion, what unfortunately goes neglected is the status of the Iranian people who should be the first beneficiaries of such an accord that led to many sanctions being lifted from the Iranian regime. 25% of young people and 42% of women are  unemployed  in Iran The ruling elite in Tehran have usurped the billions pr...