Ayotte Raises Concerns That Iran Deal Obligates U.S. to Help Iran Protect Nuclear Program from Sabotage

Press Release

At yesterday's Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) questioned Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey and other top administration officials regarding the stipulations in the Iran nuclear agreement that require the United States to help protect Iran's nuclear program from sabotage.

"It might be hard for Americans to believe that we would agree to help Iran protect against sabotage of its nuclear program, in light of its prior intentions... the idea that we would agree to help them protect its nuclear program against sabotage [is troubling]," Ayotte said.

General Dempsey answered, "I hadn't thought about that, Senator, and I would like to have the opportunity to do so."

Ayotte also questioned whether the agreement would require the U.S. to help Iran resist an effort by one of our allies to undermine Tehran's nuclear program. As she highlighted in the hearing, according to paragraph 10.2 of Annex III of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the U.S. must help "strengthen Iran's ability to protect against...sabotage" of its nuclear program.

Also in yesterday's hearing, Ayotte asked Chairman Dempsey to confirm that it was his military recommendation that the United States not agree to the lifting of the arms embargo and ballistic missile restrictions on Iran. In response to Ayotte's question, Chairman Dempsey said, "...yes that was my military advice."

In a July 7, 2015, Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, in response to another question from Ayotte, Chairman Dempsey said, "Under no circumstances should we relieve pressure on Iran relative to the ballistic missile capabilities and arms trafficking." Under the agreement with Iran, contrary to General Dempsey's military advice, the U.N. arms embargo and ballistic missile restrictions will be lifted at five and eight years, respectively.

After the hearing, Ayotte said, "Iran is the world's worst state sponsor of terrorism and has persistently pursued the world's most dangerous weapon. There's a lot in this deal we should be worried about, including the outrageous and unacceptable provision that commits the U.S. to help protect Iran's nuclear program from sabotage as well as the dangerous agreement to lift the U.N. arms embargo and missile restrictions on Iran. Lifting these restrictions would only make it easier for Iran to purchase and develop missiles and weapons to threaten the U.S. and our allies, as well as to arm the murderous Assad regime and terrorist organizations like Hezbollah. It is deeply troubling that the White House has decided to ignore the military advice of Chairman Dempsey on an issue with such serious national security ramifications."

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the principal military advisor to the President, the National Security Council, and the Secretary of Defense.

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