Schakowsky Statement on Continued Efforts to Undermine the Iran Nuclear Agreement

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky released the following statement on the continued effort by Congressional Republicans to undermine the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreed to with Iran. This week the House voted on legislation that would prohibit the transfer of cash to Iran and require the State Department to report on the assets of Iranian leadership.

“Republicans are continuing to spread misinformation about the Iran deal in a desperate effort to undermine its progress. The latest myth to be spouted by Congressional Republicans alleges that the United States paid a ransom to the Iranian government. Those claims are false. The payments made by the U.S. government were part of a settlement agreement to return Iranian funds for an uncompleted arms sale from 1979 and were announced to the public in January. In addition, House Republicans are bringing to the floor separate legislation that would prevent Iran from receiving the benefits they were promised under the JCPOA and prevent the U.S. from fulfilling our end of the deal.

“The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has certified that Iran is complying with its obligations under the deal. While we must continue to hold Iran accountable for its non-nuclear actions in the region and ensure that they abide by the JCPOA, the answer is not to rip apart this landmark agreement. This legislation would divert resources away from efforts to hold Iran accountable for its actions on human rights, ballistic missiles and support for terrorism. Undermining the JCPOA, which the United States negotiated with the other world powers, would leave the United States isolated and only speed up Iranian access to a nuclear weapon. The Republicans’ persistent efforts to undermine the agreement are dangerous, and I will continue to fight to ensure that all parties abide by this agreement.”