WILMINGTON - U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after reports indicated that the U.S. and Iran have negotiated a prisoner exchange and that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed Iran has fulfilled all commitments required for 'Implementation Day' of the nuclear agreement reached earlier this year.
"I recognize that Iran has taken several important steps, mandated by the agreement reached with the U.S and our international partners, to disable or limit key elements of its nuclear program and to make much harder its efforts to develop a nuclear weapons capability. I'm also relieved by the long-overdue release of four Americans from unjust Iranian custody, including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian.
"However, I am deeply concerned that tens of billions of dollars of frozen Iranian assets held around the world as a result of our years-long sanctions efforts will soon become available to Iran. Time and again, the Iranian regime has shown that it intends to continue supporting terrorism and aggression throughout the region, so 'Implementation Day' of the nuclear agreement means that our responsibility to deter Iran's dangerous actions is both more urgent and significantly more difficult. It's also more important than ever that we strengthen our regional allies who are our partners in deterring Iranian aggression.
"Iran is only regaining access to its assets after taking significant steps to dismantle parts of its nuclear weapons program. Our core national interest has always been to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, and if Iran has met all of its commitments, we will have significantly slowed Iran's nuclear efforts for the next 10-15 years.
"Specifically, implementation of this agreement has only occurred after Iran has done four things they pledged to do in the nuclear agreement reached last summer. First, it means that Iran has shipped 12 tons of enriched uranium - nearly its entire stockpile - out of the country. Second, it has reduced its functioning centrifuges from 19,000 to 6,104 and accepted long term limits on centrifuge development. Third, it has disabled the core of the Arak reactor, which otherwise would have produced weapons grade plutonium, and finally, it has given the IAEA unprecedented access to monitor all its nuclear-related facilities, including uranium mines and mills and centrifuge production workshops.
"Despite these positive steps to fulfill the nuclear agreement we reached with Iran, it's now more important than ever to deter and punish Iran for its violations of international law outside the parameters of the nuclear deal. Specifically, the Obama Administration must show Iran that actions like its recent ballistic missile tests will not be tolerated, and will instead be met with decisive action from the United States. We also cannot tolerate Iran's support for terrorism and repeated human rights violations.
"The long path from comprehensive sanctions to 'Implementation Day' is proof that Iran will only respond to direct, aggressive pressure from the United States and our allies, and I hope the Administration acts quickly to punish Iran for violations of international law and continues pressuring Iran to end its aggression in the region."