J Street believes that an Iran with nuclear weapons, especially one that continues to support terrorist groups, presents a major threat to Israel and American interests, and a challenge to peace and stability in the Middle East. The United States therefore shares a clear interest with Israel and the international community in ensuring that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapons capability.
We believe that any serious and realistic attempt to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions demands a comprehensive and multilateral approach, rooted in active diplomatic engagement with Iran and the international community. J Street commends President Obama for his early efforts to engage Iran diplomatically and for his success in bringing about new multilateral sanctions through the United Nations Security Council, following Iran's rejection of the internationally-supported proposals to assist it in meeting its civilian nuclear energy needs.
To enhance the tools at the disposal of the United States as part of this broad multilateral effort to increase pressure on Iran, J Street supported Congressional passage and the President's enactment of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (the "Act"). The Act highlights, at a critical juncture for the Iranian Government, that they face a real choice between one path that leads to further isolation and another that leads to full integration in the international community and the ability to develop their economy to its full potential.
It is important to note that nothing in this new law should be taken as authorizing or encouraging the use of military force against Iran. J Street is strongly opposed to any consideration at this time of the use of military force by Israel or the United States to attack Iran.
Additionally, the Act included several human rights related measures for which J Street has actively lobbied. J Street's supporters, like most Americans, are inspired by the Iranian people's struggle for democracy and outraged by the Iranian regime's violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrations by the Iranian people seeking to express and struggle for their democratic rights. J Street applauded President Obama's declaration that he was "appalled and outraged by these events." J Street believes that human rights should be part of the agenda of U.S. and international engagement with Iran (and the region as a whole). We believe the US should affirm its support for the legitimate hopes and aspirations of the Iranian people for freedom, human rights, and democracy - a commitment that should apply to all peoples of the region.
Accordingly, J Street commends Congress for including in the new law elements of the Iranian Digital Empowerment Act that updates U.S. sanctions to allow for the export of communications software and Internet services, such as instant messaging, to Iranian democracy activists and ordinary citizens who made use of similar technologies to bypass their government's censorship efforts during the crackdown. J Street also supports the Act's inclusion of provisions of the Stand With The Iranian People Act ("SWIPA") that strengthen travel restrictions on Iranian human rights abusers and imposes penalties on companies that provide censorship software and other tools of repression to the Iranian regime. J Street continues to support enactment of additional SWIPA provisions that would update U.S. sanctions law to allow American nonprofits to provide humanitarian and civic development assistance in Iran to parties wholly unconnected.
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Additional Resources
"Statement on Congressional Passage of Iran Sanctions," June 24, 2010.
"J Street Welcomes UN Security Council Passage of Iran Sanctions," June 9, 2010.
"Statement on UN Security Council Iran Sanctions Resolution," May 20, 2010.
"J Street Calls for Passage of Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act of 2009 (IRPSA)," December 7, 2009.
"Statement on Committee Mark Up of Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act," October 16, 2009.
"Statement on P5+1 Talks with Iran," October 1, 2009.
"J Street Condemns Iranian President Ahmadinejad," September 23, 2009.
Click here to view J Street's archived press statements and releases on Iran.
