66 Organizations Warn Senate Against New Iran Sanctions

Sixty-six organizations delivered a joint letter to the Senate today urging the Senate to oppose new Iran sanctions legislation, S.1881, that they say would “critically endanger the possibility of a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear standoff with Iran, increasing the likelihood of a nuclear-armed Iran and an unnecessary and costly war.” The letter, organized by the National Iranian American Council, Friends Committee on National Legislation, and Win Without War, was signed by progressive groups including CREDO, MoveOn.org and Daily Kos; pro-Israel groups including Americans for Peace Now and J Street; and religious organizations including the United Methodist Church. The letter comes just two days after the United States, Iran and other members of the P5+1 agreed on terms to implement the Joint Action Plan struck in November, which will freeze and roll back Iran’s nuclear program and facilitate negotiations toward a final deal. You can see the letter below or in PDF form. January 14, 2014 To: Members of the U.S. Senate The following 66 organizations are writing to warn that Senate passage of new Iran sanctions would critically endanger the possibility of a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear standoff with Iran, increasing the likelihood of a nuclear-armed Iran and an unnecessary and costly war. We call on you to not cosponsor S.1881 (the “Nuclear Weapon-Free Iran Act of 2013”) and strongly discourage Senate consideration of new Iran sanctions while negotiations proceed. The Joint Plan of Action signed between the P5+1 and Iran in November boosts American and regional security by freezing and rolling back Iran’s nuclear program for the first time in nearly a decade. The agreement also institutes unprecedented transparency for international inspectors, including daily inspection of Iran’s enrichment facilities. However, as part of the agreement, the U.S. has agreed to “refrain from imposing new nuclear-related sanctions” on Iran. Even with the delay mechanisms included in S.1881, U.S. and Iranian officials warn that new Congressional sanctions would kill the deal. The White House has added that new Congressional sanctions would be perceived as a sign of bad faith by allies critical to the enforcement of the sanctions regime, including the other permanent members of the UN Security Council. As a result, new sanctions will erode rather than strengthen our leverage for negotiations. Further, an unclassified U.S. intelligence assessment warns that, “new sanctions would undermine the prospects for a successful comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran.” S.1881 also sets insurmountable demands for a comprehensive nuclear deal by insisting that Iran dismantle its entire “nuclear infrastructure, including enrichment and reprocessing capabilities and facilities.” Such a demand is a poison pill for negotiations and is not necessary to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. Further, any comprehensive deal will require trading in existing sanctions for Iranian nuclear concessions. But the sanctions provisions included in S.1881 could only be waived by the President for a final nuclear deal if Iran agrees to the zero enrichment demand, effectively eliminating the President’s ability to offer sanctions relief. Rather than attack Presidential waiver authority, Congress should ensure that the President has full authority to lift sanctions as part of a comprehensive deal. By foreclosing diplomatic prospects, new sanctions would set us on a path to war. The American people have made it clear that they do not want another war in the Middle East and strongly support pursuing diplomatic prospects until they are exhausted. It would be the height of irresponsibility to step in and undercut diplomatic negotiations before this opportunity has the chance to bear fruit. We strongly urge you to withhold co-sponsorship of S.1881 and delay consideration of new Iran sanctions while negotiations are ongoing. Sincerely, National Iranian American Council Friends Committee on National Legislation Win Without War Adventist Peace Fellowship Ameinu American Baptist Churches American Friends Service Committee American Values Network Americans for Peace Now AntiWar.com Arab American Institute Augustinians Province of St. Thomas Villanova Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America Berim Center for Interfaith Engagement, Eastern Mennonite University Center for International Policy CODEPINK Come Home America Conference of Major Superiors of Men Council for a Livable World CREDO Daily Kos Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Evangelicals for Middle East Understanding Evangelicals for Social Action Fellowship of Reconciliation Franciscan Action Network Global Exchange Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ GlobalSolutions.org Havaar Institute for Policy Studies, New Internationalism Project International Civil Society Action Network Islamic Society of North America J Street Jewish Voice for Peace Just Foreign Policy Maryknoll Office For Global Concerns Mennonite Central Committee U.S. MoveOn.org Multifaith Voices for Peace and Justice Muslim Public Affairs Voice Muslims for Progressive Values New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good On Earth Peace Orthodox Peace Fellowship Pax Christi International Peace Action Peace Action West Physicians for Social Responsibility Presbyterian Church (USA)

Progressive Democrats of America The Shalom Center Shomer Shalom Network for Jewish Nonviolence Society of the Divine Savior - American Province Sojourners Tikkun/The Network of Spiritual Progressives United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries United for Peace and Justice United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society U.S. Labor Against War U.S. Province of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit USAction Veterans for Peace Women’s Action for New Directions Young Democrats of America  * This letter was initially sent to the Senate with 62 signers – four additional organizations requested to join and have been added.