Statement on U.S. Withdrawal from JCPOA

Statement

It is a sad and dark hour for our nation and the global family. This administration's decision to withdraw the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is a major blow to all those working to bring peace to the world community. Never before has the credibility of the United States been so undermined by a gross failure to honor our commitments.

Nearly three years ago, I supported the agreement after constant study, briefings, and discussions. During the debate on the House Floor, I warned that we could not let the perfect be the enemy of the good in the quest for nonviolence, especially when the alternative is nonexistence. Iran cannot have nuclear weapons--but the United States must be a headlight and not a taillight, leading the world on the path to peace through the hard, necessary work of diplomacy.

To this very day, experts and allies agree that the agreement was working to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. As we face challenges and uncertainty around the globe, it makes no sense to turn your back to progress, to ignore the pleas of our allies, and to disregard wise counsel and hard core facts. The price of peace is persistence, but the cost of war is always too high.

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