Statement of The Iran Project on Extension of Nuclear Talks with Iran

We support the decision of the Permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany and Iran, to extend the nuclear talks for another four months in order to achieve an agreement that would severely restrict Iran’s ability to acquire a nuclear weapon.

Secretary Kerry, in his announcement, summed up succinctly the reasons for the extension: “to turn our back prematurely on diplomatic efforts when significant progress has been made would deny ourselves the ability to achieve our objectives peacefully, and to maintain the international unity that we have built...the very real prospect of reaching a good agreement that achieves our objectives necessitates that we seek more time.”

We urge all parties to make every effort to reach an acceptable agreement as soon as possible. To this end, we also urge that Congress not take actions now that could cause the collapse of these negotiations such as imposition of new sanctions in violation of the Joint Plan of Action. We are encouraged by the sense of optimism implicit in the agreement to continue these talks. Success would represent a victory of America’s 35-year bipartisan policy toward Iran, be a triumph of America’s commitment to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and eliminate one of most serious potential threats to the security of our friends in the region.

Ryan Crocker, former Ambassador Stephen Heintz, President of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund William Luers, former Ambassador Thomas R. Pickering, former Ambassador Paul Pillar, former Intelligence Officer Jim Walsh, MIT Frank G. Wisner, former Ambassador