The Iran Nuclear Deal: What Exactly Was the Agreement?

As we start to move into the final round of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, this week has provided us with an opportunity to gain some perspective on the framework deal announced on Thursday between Iran and the P5+1 (the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia and China). Reform Movement leaders issued a statement after the framework deal’s announcement on last Thursday that praised the work of diplomacy while expressing concern over Iran’s ability to obtain nuclear weapons. Since then, many others: Jews and non-Jews, Americans and Israelis, politicians and policy wonks, have weighed in on the benefits and drawbacks to the framework deal. To learn more about the framework deal and to glean new insights, check out these resources and articles:

• The New York Times created a helpful primer (with graphics!) on the framework deal and what it accomplished.
• President Obama sat down for an interview with New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman last weekend and made his case for why the deal makes the world safer.
• Israel’s Minister of Intelligence and Strategic Affairs, Yuval Steinitz, has produced a list of conditions that must be in an agreement for Israel to support it.
• Nahum Barnea, one of Israel’s leading columnists, opined in Yedioth Aharonoth (Ynet) that Prime Minister Netanyahu should work with, and not against the agreement.
• Michael Oren, Member of Knesset for the Kulanu party and former Ambassador to the United States, criticized the P5+1’s negotiators for caving to Iran.
• Haaretz’s Peter Beinart emphasized that the alternatives to a nuclear deal are grim and few in number, so even though there is criticism of the deal, Beinart writes that it was best option in a very difficult and tense situation.

Next week promises to be a pivotal one for the nuclear talks, as the Senate is set to consider the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015, commonly known as the Corker bill, as early as next week. The Corker bill may have the potential to scuttle a deal by hampering President Obama’s ability to roll back sanctions in a timely manner. As we find out more about that bill moving through Congress, we’ll keep you updated on RACBlog!