A Prayer for a sick child: Iran’s Nuclear Deal By Hassan mahmoudiInline

01:35 AM July, 22 2017

Sudanese Online
Hassan Mahmoudi-USA
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In the wake of the 2nd anniversary of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), there is a growing rift between the United States and Europe over how to engage with JCPOA. For Europe, the nuclear deal facilitates and opens a vast consumer and energy market for companies. The French energy giant Total signed a $5 billion investment gas deal with Iran this month “We’re here to build bridges, not walls,” Patrick Pouyanné said in an interview with Agene France-Persse at the signing ceremony in Tehran.
While US Senators demanding action, calling the Secretary of State to denounce Iran for its violations of the deal and its belligerent activities. Several Republicans in Congress want Tillerson to deny certification this time around so that Congress can restore some sanctions.
Four Senators - Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), David Perdue (R-Ga.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) - wrote to him on Tuesday.
“The law Congress passed to hold Iran accountable requires the secretary of state and president to certify that this deal is in the vital national security interest of the United States,” Mr. Cotton said on Fox News. “I simply wouldn’t certify that if I was the secretary of state or president.”
Legacy of Obama’s policy
The defeat of Obama's doctrine, which was most obvious in its policy of appeasement toward the fundamentalist regime of Iran is now witnessed in the fate of JCPOA and will definitely have great consequences in future.
JCPOA offered enormous benefits for Iran’s economy and, as a result, provided substantial additional resources to the government of Iran. Now the question is, what did Tehran do with the money؟
The events revealed that the Iranian regime, despite having access to a vast new cash stream as a result of President Obama's Iran Deal, nevertheless continues to prioritize illegal military activity over serving the needs of its people.
Regional provocative actions
Since the nuclear agreement was adopted last year, The latest rocket launch by Iran was the fourth of its kind, in defiance of the United Nations resolution, Iran is using the cash it has received from the Obama administration’s ransom payment for just such military expansion, as well as its terrorist activities.
The Obama administration nuclear deal failed to counter Tehran’s malign actions including weapons transfers to Syria, Iraq.Yemen and Lebanon, Support for terrorism and other violations of international norms. In recent statement Financial Action Task Force (FATF) announced that Iran remains blacklisted for money laundering and financing terror groups.
During 2015 and 2016 U.S. Navy ships had a total of 54 “unsafe interactions” with the speedboats of IRGC in the Persian Gulf. They tried to agitate U.S. Navy ships sailing in international waters near the Strait. Some of these happened at the same time the commander of IRGC’s Quds force, accompanied by Iraqi Shiite militias, was involved in the siege Syria’s second largest city, Aleppo, to help the Syrian dictator remain in power.
Domestic consequences:
JCPOA has provided enormous resources available to the IRGC, which plays an outsized role in Iran’s internal power structure and which definitely exploits economic dividends generated by the JCPOA.
The plunder of Iran’s wealth by the mullahs, who have hijacked the Iranian Revolution three decades ago have left almost nothing for the Iranian people Since the nuclear agreement was adopted last year high cost of military intervention in Syria caused social damages such as, skyrocketing inflation, considerable unemployment, shortages, poverty, sleeping in graveyards, mine explosion incidents, lack of free competition, a deterioration of human rights, "The main concerns of business in Iran are around the issue of stability and peace," said Masoud Khansari, head of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce.
“For the first time in at least eight years, I can say that we have a president of the United States who is completely and totally opposed to the regime in Tehran. “Said John Bolton at ‘Free Iran’ Rally in Paris “Trump had made clear during the election campaign and in numerous statements – “and even in tweets” – since, that he completely opposes the nuclear deal signed by Obama.
“he added.
In the light of these events, 30 former senior US officials and top military commanders issued a joint statement said in part: “We believe that change is within reach, not only because the regime is becoming engulfed in crisis, but also because there is a large and growing movement organizing for positive change. A viable organization capable of ending the nightmare of religious dictatorship by establishing freedom and democracy, tolerance, and gender equality has steadily gained visibility, popular support, and international recognition, under the leadership of President -Elect Maryam Rajavi.
Hassan Mahmoudi is a human rights advocate, specializing in political and economic issues relating to Iran and the Middle East. @hassan_mahmou1