Hillary Clinton Presidential Campaign, 2016#Iran

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The United States and five world powers implemented an agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the development of its nuclear program on January 16, 2016. The agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), placed limits on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for economic sanctions relief. President Barack Obama said that the deal would "make our country, our allies, and the world safer."^[2][3][4]

The JCPOA, commonly referred to as the Iran nuclear deal, placed limits on the amount of uranium and plutonium—the materials used to create an atomic weapon—Iranians can have and manufacture. It also required Iran to transform or close their nuclear facilities, reduce their number of centrifuges for enriching uranium, limit their stockpile of low-enriched uranium, and end their production of weapons-grade plutonium. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was made responsible for monitoring Iran's nuclear program and investigating any suspicious activity. In return, the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations lifted some of the economic sanctions that were placed on Iran.^[5][6][4]

On the campaign trail, the Iran nuclear deal became a central issue as candidates were questioned as to whether they would implement and enforce "snap back" sanctions, respect the agreement, or end it "with the stroke of a pen."^[7][8]

See what Hillary Clinton and the 2016 Democratic Platform said about Iran and the Iran nuclear deal.

Clinton on Iran and the Iran nuclear deal[edit]

• On January 17, 2016, as the nuclear deal with Iran was being implemented, Hillary Clinton said, "Certainly we have lowered that threat because of the nuclear agreement, but they continue to destabilize governments in the Middle East, they continue to support proxies and terrorist groups like Hezbollah, they continue to threaten Israel, there are a lot of concerns."^[9]

• On January 16, 2016, after Iran released Americans that the country had imprisoned, which coincided with the implementation of the nuclear deal, Clinton gave the following statement: "I am greatly relieved by the safe return of American prisoners from Iran. Their families and our country have waited and prayed for this day to come. I also welcome the full implementation of the nuclear agreement, an important achievement of diplomacy backed by pressure. Implementation marks an important step forward in preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran has dismantled centrifuges, disabled a reactor, and shipped out almost all of its enriched uranium. These are important steps that make the United States, our allies, and the entire world safer. I congratulate President Obama and his team, and I’m proud of the role I played to get this process started. But we shouldn’t thank Iran for the prisoners or for following through on its obligations. These prisoners were held unjustly by a regime that continues to threaten the peace and security of the Middle East. Another American, Bob Levinson, still isn’t home with his family. The treatment of our Navy sailors earlier this week was offensive, including the release of a demeaning and provocative video. Iran is still violating UN Security Council resolutions with its ballistic missile program, which should be met with new sanctions designations and firm resolve. So we can’t take our eye off the ball. As President, my approach will be to distrust and verify. I will vigorously enforce the nuclear deal as part of a comprehensive strategy that confronts all of Iran’s negative actions in the region and stand side-by-side with our ally Israel and our Arab partners.”^[10]

• Speaking at the Brookings Institution on September 9, 2015, about the Iran nuclear deal, Clinton said, “As president I will take whatever actions are necessary to protect the U.S. and its allies. I will not hesitate to take military action.” She also noted she understood Israel’s concerns about the agreement, but added, “I would not support this agreement for one second if I thought it put Israel in greater danger.” Clinton emphasized that her approach to enforcement would be “distrust and verify.”^[11][12]

• Clinton defended the Iran nuclear deal on August 10, 2015. She said that it was the joint effort of several nations, and the United States’ reputation would be harmed if Congress rejected the deal. She said, "The Europeans, the Russians, the Chinese, they’re going to say, 'We stuck with the Americans. We agreed with the Americans. We hammered out this agreement. I guess their president can’t make foreign policy. That’s a very bad signal to send in a quickly moving and oftentimes dangerous world.'"^[13]

• After the Iran nuclear deal was finalized on July 14, 2015, Clinton said, "Based on what I know now, and I will be being briefed as soon as I finish addressing you, this is an important step for putting a lid on Iran’s nuclear program." Clinton cautioned that the deal must "be enforced vigorously, relentlessly."^[14]

• On April 2, 2015, Clinton said, "The understanding that the major world powers have reached with Iran is an important step toward a comprehensive agreement that would prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon and strengthen the security of the United States, Israel, and the region. President [Barack Obama] and Secretary [of State John] Kerry have been persistent and determined in pursuit of this goal, building on a decade of bipartisan pressure and diplomacy. Getting the rest of the way to a final deal by June won't be easy, but it is absolutely crucial. I know well that the devil is always in the details in this kind of negotiation. So I strongly support President Obama and Secretary Kerry's efforts between now and June to reach a final deal that verifiably cuts off all of Iran's paths to a nuclear weapon, imposes an intrusive inspection program with no sites off limits, extends breakout time, and spells out clear and overwhelming consequences for violations. The onus is on Iran and the bar must be set high. It can never be permitted to acquire a nuclear weapon. It is also vital that these efforts be part of a comprehensive strategy to check Iran's regional ambitions, defend our allies and partners, and reinforce American leadership in the Middle East. There is much to do and much more to say in the months ahead, but for now diplomacy deserves a chance to succeed."^[15]

• Read what other presidential candidates said about the Iran nuclear deal.

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See also[edit]

• Hillary Clinton
• Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, 2016
• 2016 presidential candidates on foreign affairs

Footnotes[edit]

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