Save the Iran Deal

Here's Who Supports Keeping the Iran Deal

Who supports this international agreement with Iran? American and international political leaders back the deal. Nearly the entire community of arms control and nuclear proliferation experts thinks it’s an outstanding accomplishment. And while Israel’s politicians waver, top security chiefs — ranking military chiefs and past leaders of the Mossad and Shin Bet — believe the agreement must be upheld.

Trump’s Own Advisors

President Trump has surrounded himself with Iran hawks, some of whom were critics of the deal in its early stages. While they might not believe the deal is perfect, recent comments suggest that many disagree with Trump’s decertification and believe that the deal must be preserved.

 

"I believe at this point in time, absent indications to the contrary, it is something that the president should consider staying with."
James Mattis
Secretary of Defense
"The briefings I have received indicate that Iran is adhering to its JCPOA obligations ... It makes sense to me that our holding up agreements that we have signed, unless there’s a material breach, would have an impact on others’ willingness to sign agreements."
General Joseph Dunford
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
"The intelligence did not suggest a breach that would deny confirming [Iran’s compliance with the deal]."
Dan Coats
Director of National Intelligence

The Israeli Security Establishment

The people charged with protecting Israel’s security believe the Iran deal does exactly that. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s bombastic rhetoric has obscured the fact that many of Israel’s top military and intelligence leaders consider the deal a significant accomplishment that should not be undermined. Even early critics of the deal like former Prime Minister Ehud Barak say that abandoning the deal would be “a mistake.”

"Thanks to the agreement, Iran's nuclear program has been defanged and all its pathways to a bomb blocked."
Carmi Gillon
Former Shin Bet Director
"The deal that was achieved was beyond the realistic expectation even here in Israel."
Efraim Halevy
Former Mossad Director
"My position is in support of preserving the agreement."
Uzi Arad
Former National Security Advisor to PM Netanyahu
"This agreement is the best among all other alternatives, and any military strike – as successful as it may be – would not have delayed even 20% of what the agreement will delay."
Israel Ziv
IDF Major General (Ret.)
"This agreement is better than no agreement and must not be rejected. If implemented, it will block all of Iran’s pathways to a nuclear weapon, and extend the time Iran would need to build a bomb from only two months to more than a year."
Ami Ayalon
Former Shin Bet Director
"Even if America decides to pull out of it, no one will join — not the Chinese, not the Russians, not even the Europeans. It will serve the Iranians."
Ehud Barak
Former Prime Minister & Defense Minister of Israel

GBA Strategies Poll of American Jewish voters conducted for J Street, November 8, 2016

Survey of 731 American Jews, margin of error +/- 3.6%

The American Public

According to a September 2017 Morning Consult/Politico Poll, 54% of Americans support the agreement vs. just 28% who oppose it.

And, despite the claims of deal opponents, polls have consistently demonstrated that Jewish Americans support the Iran nuclear agreement at a higher rate than the rest of the population:

GBA Strategies Poll of American Jewish voters conducted for J Street, November 8, 2016

And many, many more:

"We continue to believe the Iran nuclear deal was an important step forward and important contribution to stability in the region and we continue to support it."
Theresa May
British Prime Minister
"Simply put, every single one of [Iran's] pathways to a nuclear weapon has been blocked. The deal has been a major success."
Uzi Eilam
Former Director of Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission
"My judgment ... is that it's a pretty good deal."
Colin Powell
Former Secretary of State, Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff