A new group of retired U.S. generals have come out in opposition to the Iran nuclear deal, saying in a report that the agreement "has potentially grave strategic implications that directly threaten to undermine" national security and places the U.S. in "far worse position to prevent a nuclear Iran."
The report, co-authored by retired Gen. James Conway of the Marines and retired Gen. Charles Wald of the Air Force, was released last week by the New York-based Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, reported CNS News.
The Iran deal, officially titled the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed on July 14 between the P5+1 world powers and Iran but will not actually prevent a nuclear Iran, the generals warn.
"No later than 15 years, the deal's major nuclear restrictions will lapse, Iran will stand on the brink of nuclear weapons capability, and once again the United States will likely have to devote significant resources and attention to keeping Tehran from attaining nuclear weapons," the generals said in the report.
Under the JCPOA, a number of international economic sanctions on Iran will be lifted in exchange for it pledging not to develop nuclear weapons. The generals contend that lifting sanctions will give Tehran the time and money it needs to build up its military and support more terrorism.
"The JCPOA will give Iran the means to increase support for terrorist and insurgent proxies, aggravate sectarian conflict and trigger both nuclear and conventional proliferation cascades. It will provide the expansionist regime in Tehran with access to resources, technology and international arms markets required to bolster offensive military capabilities in the vital Persian Gulf region, acquire long-range ballistic missiles and develop other major weapons systems," according to the generals' report.
Per the agreement, some $100 billion in Iranian assets will be unfrozen, and it will need only a fraction of that money to revitalize its defense industrial base in the short term, according to the report.
In testimony on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Wald argued that the JCPOA could also encourage U.S. allies in the Middle East to align themselves with Russia or China, according to the Washington Free Beacon.
Wald, who served as deputy commander of U.S. European Command, said the nuclear deal "undermines U.S. credibility" in the eyes of Middle Eastern allies and could be interpreted as a faltering of U.S. commitment or even betrayal.
"Some U.S. allies have made clear they believe this deal will not prevent a nuclear Iran and, that by proceeding with the [agreement], the United States is disrupting the regional balance of power and endangering them," Wald said. "Other regional partners have noted that the deal empowers Iran to redouble its destabilizing regional activities, making the Middle East a more dangerous place. "
The nuclear agreement will take effect on Sept. 17 unless both the U.S. House and Senate are able to pass resolutions rejecting it, according to USA Today.
