{ "id": "R44942", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R44942", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 580962, "date": "2018-05-09", "retrieved": "2018-05-22T13:21:55.783924", "title": "U.S. Decision to Cease Implementing the Iran Nuclear Agreement", "summary": "On May 8, 2018, President Donald Trump announced that his Administration would cease implementing U.S. commitments under the 2015 multilateral Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran and reimpose all U.S. sanctions that were in place prior to the JCPOA. His announcement made reference to his previous statements on the issue, including an October 13, 2017, announcement of U.S. strategy on Iran and a January 12, 2018, statement pledging to leave the agreement unless Congress and U.S. allies acted to address the full range of U.S. concerns on Iran. In his May 8 and earlier statements, President Trump asserted that the agreement does not address the full range of potential threats posed by Iran, or permanently ensure that Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon. President Trump also again asserted that the JCPOA provided Iran with additional financial resources with which to pursue its ballistic missile program and support its regional \u201cmalign activities.\u201d In his May 8 statement, President Trump indicated that reimposed U.S. sanctions would succeed in pressuring Iran to renegotiate the JCPOA to accommodate Administration demands. \nPresident Trump\u2019s May 8 statement also implied that, based on an early May presentation by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran has not abandoned an intent to ultimately develop a nuclear weapon. International nuclear inspectors, as well as senior U.S. officials, have consistently indicated in their reports that Iran is complying with the provisions of the JCPOA. The President foreshadowed his May 8 announcement with his October 2017 and January and April 2018 refusal to certify to Congress, under the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA, P.L. 114-17), that continued U.S. sanctions relief to Iran under the JCPOA is \u201cappropriate and proportionate\u201d to the measures taken by Iran to terminate its illicit nuclear program. The withholding of that certification did not automatically reimpose any U.S. sanctions on Iran, but gave Congress the opportunity to use expedited procedures to do so. Congress did not act to reimpose the sanctions. \nThe other powers that negotiated the accord with Iran\u2014Russia, China, France, Britain, and Germany\u2014have consistently asserted that the JCPOA is succeeding in its core objectives and that its implementation should not be jeopardized. Several European countries have sought to address President Trump\u2019s demands in negotiations with U.S. officials. In late April 2018 visits to Washington, DC, the President of France and the Chancellor of Germany told President Trump they want to work with the United States to formulate joint action that would address his concerns, but they urged that he keep the United States in the accord as a foundation on which to build additional restrictions on Iran. The leaders of Britain, France, and Germany, as well as the European Union, expressed \u201cregret\u201d about the U.S. decision and pledged to work with Iran to continue implementing the JCPOA. Iran\u2019s President Hassan Rouhani immediately reacted to the May 8 U.S. decision by pledging to continue implementing the accord, provided Iran continues to receive the economic benefits of the agreement. \nThis report analyzes the U.S. pullout from the JCPOA and its potential implications. For details on the JCPOA\u2019s provisions and related sanctions issues, see CRS Report R43333, Iran Nuclear Agreement, by Kenneth Katzman and Paul K. Kerr; and CRS Report RS20871, Iran Sanctions, by Kenneth Katzman.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44942", "sha1": "32fa286bdd186559c215d8df080d812246b6480b", "filename": "files/20180509_R44942_32fa286bdd186559c215d8df080d812246b6480b.html", "images": {} }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44942", "sha1": "cc7e7c0820a7cae76cf8345f8d55bc9f1a5e9bfd", "filename": "files/20180509_R44942_cc7e7c0820a7cae76cf8345f8d55bc9f1a5e9bfd.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4758, "name": "Middle East & North Africa" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4873, "name": "Strategic Forces, CBRN, & Nonproliferation" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 580609, "date": "2018-04-30", "retrieved": "2018-05-01T14:07:30.362503", "title": "Options to Cease Implementing the Iran Nuclear Agreement", "summary": "In an October 13, 2017, announcement of a new U.S. strategy on Iran, President Donald Trump asserted that the 2015 multilateral nuclear agreement with Iran, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), does not address the full range of potential threats posed by Iran, or permanently ensure that Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon. President Trump has also asserted that, by supporting terrorist groups in the Middle East region and furthering its ballistic missile program, \u201cIran is not living up to the spirit of the deal,\u201d although international nuclear inspectors have consistently indicated in their reports that Iran is complying with the provisions of the JCPOA. The President has subsequently not certified to Congress under the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA, P.L. 114-17) that continued U.S. sanctions relief to Iran under the JCPOA is \u201cappropriate and proportionate\u201d to the measures taken by Iran to terminate its illicit nuclear program. The withholding of that certification does not automatically reimpose any U.S. sanctions on Iran but gives Congress the opportunity to use expedited procedures to do so. Congress has not acted, to date, to reimpose on Iran those sanctions suspended under the JCPOA. \nIn a January 12, 2018, statement, the President more explicitly threatened to reimpose U.S. sanctions on Iran, and thereby essentially withdraw the United States from the agreement, unless Congress and U.S. allies acted to address the full range of U.S. concerns on Iran and increase the extent and duration of the JCPOA\u2019s restrictions on Iran\u2019s nuclear program. The other powers that negotiated the accord with Iran\u2014Russia, China, France, Britain, and Germany\u2014assert that the JCPOA is succeeding in its core objectives and that its implementation should not be jeopardized. Several European countries have sought to address President Trump\u2019s demands in negotiations with U.S. officials. In late April 2018 visits to Washington, D.C. the President of France and the Chancellor of Germany told President Trump they want to work with the United States to formulate joint action that would address his concerns, but they urged that he keep the United States in the accord as a foundation on which to build additional restrictions on Iran. However, there is little certainty about what President Trump might accept in order to keep the United States in the agreement. A major decision for the Trump Administration comes on May 12, 2018, which is the date of expiration of the current waiver of one of the key Iran sanctions laws that are waived to implement the JCPOA. \nThis report analyzes some of the options the Administration and Congress might use to end or alter U.S. implementation of the JCPOA. These options, which might involve use of procedures in the JCPOA itself or INARA, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Potential implications of these options are analyzed as well. For details on the JCPOA and related issues, see CRS Report R43333, Iran Nuclear Agreement, by Kenneth Katzman and Paul K. Kerr; and CRS Report RS20871, Iran Sanctions, by Kenneth Katzman.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44942", "sha1": "a3e321c1f33c8eb1babee9f68d4577ec524a4d85", "filename": "files/20180430_R44942_a3e321c1f33c8eb1babee9f68d4577ec524a4d85.html", "images": {} }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44942", "sha1": "98781400fe295479e85e522d9d9e20ce4a01626c", "filename": "files/20180430_R44942_98781400fe295479e85e522d9d9e20ce4a01626c.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4758, "name": "Middle East & North Africa" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4873, "name": "Strategic Forces, CBRN, & Nonproliferation" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 579915, "date": "2018-04-05", "retrieved": "2018-04-09T13:05:43.504361", "title": "Options to Cease Implementing the Iran Nuclear Agreement", "summary": "In an October 13, 2017, announcement of a new U.S. strategy on Iran, President Donald Trump asserted that the 2015 multilateral nuclear agreement with Iran, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), does not address the full range of potential threats posed by Iran, or permanently ensure that Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon. Trump asserted that, by supporting terrorist groups in the Middle East region and furthering its ballistic missile program, \u201cIran is not living up to the spirit of the deal.\u201d The President also announced that he would not certify to Congress under the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA, P.L. 114-17) that continued U.S. sanctions relief to Iran under the JCPOA is \u201cappropriate and proportionate\u201d to the measures taken by Iran to terminate its illicit nuclear program. \nIn a January 12, 2018, statement, the President more explicitly threatened to reimpose U.S. sanctions on Iran, and thereby essentially withdraw the United States from the agreement, unless Congress and U.S. allies acted to address the full range of U.S. concerns on Iran. The other powers that negotiated the accord with Iran\u2014Russia, China, France, Britain, and Germany\u2014assert that the JCPOA is succeeding in its core objectives and that its implementation should not be jeopardized. Several European countries have sought to address at least some of President Trump\u2019s demands in negotiations with U.S. officials. However, consensus has been difficult to achieve and there is little certainty about what President Trump might accept in order to keep the United States in the agreement. \nThis report analyzes some of the options the Administration and Congress might use to end or alter U.S. implementation of the JCPOA. These options, which might involve use of procedures in the JCPOA itself or INARA, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Potential implications of these options are analyzed as well. For details on the JCPOA and related issues, see CRS Report R43333, Iran Nuclear Agreement, by Kenneth Katzman and Paul K. Kerr; and CRS Report RS20871, Iran Sanctions, by Kenneth Katzman.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44942", "sha1": "99526af117841f8e69032d813ceb0ddde5c4ab1f", "filename": "files/20180405_R44942_99526af117841f8e69032d813ceb0ddde5c4ab1f.html", "images": {} }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44942", "sha1": "85453de5570940721cfd92ea6ed422bf5810be61", "filename": "files/20180405_R44942_85453de5570940721cfd92ea6ed422bf5810be61.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4758, "name": "Middle East & North Africa" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4873, "name": "Strategic Forces, CBRN, & Nonproliferation" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 575099, "date": "2017-10-31", "retrieved": "2017-11-07T14:15:42.189571", "title": "Options to Cease Implementing the Iran Nuclear Agreement", "summary": "In an October 13, 2017, announcement of a new U.S. strategy on Iran, President Donald Trump asserted that the 2015 multilateral nuclear agreement with Iran, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), does not address the full range of potential threats posed by Iran, or permanently ensure that Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon. Trump asserted that, by supporting terrorist groups in the Middle East region and furthering its ballistic missile program, \u201cIran is not living up to the spirit of the deal.\u201d The President also announced that he would not certify to Congress under the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA, P.L. 114-17) that continued U.S. sanctions relief to Iran under the JCPOA is \u201cappropriate and proportionate\u201d to the measures taken by Iran to terminate its illicit nuclear program.\nIn his statement, the President asked Congress and U.S. allies to work to address the full range of U.S. concerns on Iran. The other powers that negotiated the accord with Iran\u2014Russia, China, France, Britain, and Germany\u2014assert that the JCPOA is succeeding in its core objectives and that its implementation should not be jeopardized. The President said that he might act under his own authority to extricate the United States from the JCPOA if Congress and U.S. allies fail to adequately address his concerns. \nThis report analyzes some the options the Administration and Congress might use to end or alter U.S. implementation of the JCPOA. These options, which might involve use of procedures in the JCPOA itself or INARA, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Some potential implications of these options are analyzed as well. For details on the JCPOA and related issues, see CRS Report R43333, Iran Nuclear Agreement, by Kenneth Katzman and Paul K. Kerr; and CRS Report RS20871, Iran Sanctions, by Kenneth Katzman.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44942", "sha1": "259089dc936406f52f5a8b436b3eb176fedbb961", "filename": "files/20171031_R44942_259089dc936406f52f5a8b436b3eb176fedbb961.html", "images": {} }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44942", "sha1": "988a53e6d3d2fa1129b6501d93e8709e16032eb7", "filename": "files/20171031_R44942_988a53e6d3d2fa1129b6501d93e8709e16032eb7.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4758, "name": "Middle East & North Africa" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4873, "name": "Strategic Forces, CBRN, & Nonproliferation" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 574165, "date": "2017-10-16", "retrieved": "2017-10-17T14:15:27.625667", "title": "Options to Cease Implementing the Iran Nuclear Agreement", "summary": "In an October 13, 2017, announcement of a new U.S. strategy on Iran, President Donald Trump asserted that the 2015 multilateral nuclear agreement with Iran, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), does not address the full range of potential threats posed by Iran, or permanently ensure that Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon. He asserted that, by supporting terrorist groups in the Middle East region and furthering its ballistic missile program, \u201c...Iran is not living up to the spirit of the deal.\u201d He announced that, on that basis, he would not certify to Congress, under the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA, P.L. 114-17), that Iran is complying with the JCPOA. \nIn his statement, the President asked Congress and U.S. allies to work to address the full range of U.S. concerns on Iran. The other powers that negotiated the accord with Iran\u2014Russia, China, France, Britain, and Germany\u2014assert that the JCPOA is succeeding in its core objectives and that its implementation should not be jeopardized. The President said that he might act under his own authority to extricate the United States from the JCPOA if Congress and U.S. allies fail to adequately address his concerns. \nThis report analyzes some the options the Administration and Congress might use to end or alter U.S. implementation of the JCPOA. These options, which might involve use of procedures in the JCPOA itself or INARA, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Some potential implications of these options are analyzed as well. For details on the JCPOA and related issues, see CRS Report R43333, Iran Nuclear Agreement, by Kenneth Katzman and Paul K. Kerr; and CRS Report RS20871, Iran Sanctions, by Kenneth Katzman .", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44942", "sha1": "0771fc33aed10c62096d050c968bce14176e6c03", "filename": "files/20171016_R44942_0771fc33aed10c62096d050c968bce14176e6c03.html", "images": {} }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44942", "sha1": "2672bc531a33b83678518d279ca7001ec0d95cad", "filename": "files/20171016_R44942_2672bc531a33b83678518d279ca7001ec0d95cad.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4758, "name": "Middle East & North Africa" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4873, "name": "Strategic Forces, CBRN, & Nonproliferation" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 573838, "date": "2017-10-05", "retrieved": "2017-10-06T12:46:33.103111", "title": "Options to Cease Implementing the Iran Nuclear Agreement", "summary": "Trump Administration statements, including President Trump\u2019s speech to the U.N. General Assembly on September 19, 2017, indicate that the Administration does not believe that the 2015 multilateral nuclear agreement with Iran, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), addresses the full range of potential threats posed by Iran. Administration officials assert that the Administration is considering ending or altering U.S. implementation of the JCPOA \u2013 a decision that is opposed by the other powers that negotiated the accord with Iran: Russia, China, France, Britain, and Germany. This report analyzes some of the options the Administration might use to end or alter U.S. implementation of the JCPOA, if there is a decision to do so. These options, which might involve use of procedures in the JCPOA itself or the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (P.L. 114-17), are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Some potential implications of Administration decisions on the JCPOA are analyzed as well. For details on the JCPOA and related issues, see CRS Report R43333, Iran Nuclear Agreement, by Kenneth Katzman and Paul K. Kerr; and CRS Report RS20871, Iran Sanctions, by Kenneth Katzman.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44942", "sha1": "8a30f8bdc2f5719c4062392e14af1b49bada18f6", "filename": "files/20171005_R44942_8a30f8bdc2f5719c4062392e14af1b49bada18f6.html", "images": {} }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44942", "sha1": "41c39486c2a0a6d4b56ae3d804dbda7bca6e6849", "filename": "files/20171005_R44942_41c39486c2a0a6d4b56ae3d804dbda7bca6e6849.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4758, "name": "Middle East & North Africa" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4873, "name": "Strategic Forces, CBRN, & Nonproliferation" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 465529, "date": "2017-09-07", "retrieved": "2017-10-02T22:31:38.612453", "title": "Options to Cease Implementing the Iran Nuclear Agreement", "summary": "Trump Administration statements indicate that the Administration does not believe that the 2015 multilateral nuclear agreement with Iran, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), addresses the full range of potential threats posed by Iran. Administration officials assert that the Administration is considering ending or altering U.S. implementation of the JCPOA. This report analyzes some of the options the Administration might use to end or alter U.S. implementation of the JCPOA, if there is a decision to do so. These options, which might involve use of procedures in the JCPOA itself or the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (P.L. 114-17), are not necessarily mutually exclusive. This report does not analyze the advantages and disadvantages of any specific option, or examine in detail the implications of any particular course of action. Those issues are examined in: CRS Report R43333, Iran Nuclear Agreement, by Kenneth Katzman and Paul K. Kerr; and CRS Report RS20871, Iran Sanctions, by Kenneth Katzman.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R44942", "sha1": "745421f3b1f682b6d925671e804893f2d8bf65bc", "filename": "files/20170907_R44942_745421f3b1f682b6d925671e804893f2d8bf65bc.html", "images": {} }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R44942", "sha1": "17771f996b1e0955c8616a1e19940a46fe1034b5", "filename": "files/20170907_R44942_17771f996b1e0955c8616a1e19940a46fe1034b5.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4758, "name": "Middle East & North Africa" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4873, "name": "Strategic Forces, CBRN, & Nonproliferation" } ] } ], "topics": [ "Legislative Process", "Middle Eastern Affairs", "National Defense" ] }