Kirk, Menendez Comment on GAO's Interim Report on Iran Nuclear Deal's International Inspections

Statement

U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) commented on today's release of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) interim report on challenges faced by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in verifying the Iran nuclear deal. Senators Kirk and Menendez initially requested the GAO to conduct this study in June 2015.

"My biggest takeaway is lawmakers must come together in a bipartisan manner now to create an insurance policy for imposing crippling pressure if and when Iran once again cheats on nuclear inspections as it has so many times in the past," Senator Kirk said. "International inspectors, according to the GAO's interim report, still face an "inherent challenge' in detecting undeclared nuclear activities, including weapons development activities and centrifuge manufacturing. The report also cites concerns the IAEA's decision to end investigations into Iran's past nuclear weapons activities that "could reduce the indicators at the IAEA's disposal to detect undeclared activity.' Indeed, GAO also warns the nuclear deal's mechanism for IAEA inspectors to gain access to Iranian sites suspected of having undeclared nuclear activities remains "untested' and cautions "it is too soon to tell whether it will improve access."

"This preliminary report raises real concerns about putting our national security interests into the hands of a multilateral organization that -- although doing its best to meet overburdening new requirements -- does not have the capacity, in terms of staff and funding, nor the authorities, in terms of compelling Iran to comply, in order to meets its charge of monitoring and verifying Iran's commitment under the JCPOA," said Senator Menendez, who discussed the report's findings earlier today during a hearing with Secretary of State Kerry in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "Further, as the IAEA invests all of its resources in Iran, we will neglect the rest of the world with respect to nuclear proliferation -- an opportunity cost that threatens our national security. These are challenges we must not ignore."

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