by Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J. S. Davies / April 22nd, 2021 Biden with NATO’s Stoltenberg (Photo credit: haramjedder.blogspot.com)
President Biden took office promising a new era of American international leadership and diplomacy. But with a few exceptions, he has so far allowed self-serving foreign allies, hawkish U.S. interest groups and his own imperial delusions to undermine diplomacy and stoke the fires of war.
Biden’s failure to quickly recommit to the Iran nuclear deal, or JCPOA, as Senator Sanders promised to do on his first day as president, provided a critical delay that has been used by opponents to undermine the difficult shuttle diplomacy taking place in Vienna to restore the agreement.
Santa Clarita Congressman Garcia Signs As Co-Sponsor Of Maximum Pressure Act
Congressman Mike Garcia, R-Santa Clarita, signed on as an original co-sponsor of the Maximum Pressure Act, Wednesday which would restore the “successful” maximum pressure strategy employed by the Trump Administration.
This bill comes at the same time as the Biden administration and congressional Democrats are planning to get rid of the current leverage on Iran and re-enter the failed Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, according to Garcia.
“We must maintain maximum pressure on Iran,” Garcia said. “The Iran Nuclear deal was a failure from day one and rejoining the deal, which encouraged a nuclear arsenal and facilitated Iran’s support of terrorists, would do away with the progress made by the Trump administration’s pressure campaign on Iran.”
Iran nuclear deal: Signs of progress but doubts linger
The US has hinted at sanctions relief for Iran, though it conceded a conclusion to the nuclear deal talks is a long way off. Joe Biden will find stiff Republican opposition should he wish to offer Tehran respite.
The US and Iran remain far apart as mediators seek some middle ground.
The United States and Iran are still far apart as the pair seek a way of resurrecting the 2015 nuclear deal, a State Department official said on Wednesday.
Differences persist between Washington and Tehran over how they might resume compliance with the agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), despite making some progress in their latest indirect talks in Vienna, the US official said on condition of anonymity. A European diplomat representing Britain, France and Germany, who also wished to remain anonymous, expressed similar sentiments.
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Pompeo Joins House Republicans to Unveil Iran Sanctions Bill The bill would expand sanctions on Iran and block Biden from rejoining the nuclear deal
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with House Republicans in Washington on Wednesday to throw his support behind a piece of legislation that would expand sanctions on Iran and block President Biden from lifting sanctions that are already in place without congressional approval.
The legislation, titled the Maximum Pressure Act, is named after the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” sanctions policy on Iran that decimated the Islamic Republic’s economy. The bill would require any new deal with Iran to be ratified by the Senate. The Republican Study Committee announced its plan to introduce the legislation, which already has over 80 co-sponsors.