40 US organizations urge Congress to uphold Iran deal

In a letter to US Congress, 40 American non-governmental organizations have called for supporting negotiations with Iran “towards a comprehensive nuclear agreement.”

The letter urged Congress to “uphold the preliminary nuclear agreement between the P5+1 and Iran.”

“It is critical that Congress not cause the United States to violate our own terms under the deal. The Senate’s decision to abstain from considering new Iran sanctions has helped give diplomacy the best possible chance to succeed. It is critical that Congress not legislate new sanctions while talks are proceeding,” according to the letter.

The request was made after some American lawmakers were after voting new Iran sanctions legislation introduced by Senators Robert Menendez and Mark Kirk late last year.

The National Iranian American Council (NIAC), Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), Win Without War, and J Street are among the organizations.

The organizations said pressuring Iran into giving up uranium enrichment or completely dismantling its nuclear infrastructure will only contradict the terms of the interim accord.

They also urged cooperation between Congress and the US administration over lifting sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

“To ensure a final deal can be reached, Congress and the administration must work together to ensure that, in exchange for verifiable Iranian concessions that provide concrete assurances against nuclear weaponization, the necessary authorities exist to lift sanctions,” the letter said.

The letter was initially sent to the Senate with 38 signers – two additional organizations requested to join and have been added.

Iran and six world powers are working on a final agreement over the country’s nuclear energy program after they reached an interim deal in Geneva in November.

The nuclear negotiations got under way in Vienna last week, with both sides saying they made a “good start.”

The next round of nuclear negotiations will be held in Vienna on March 17.