Military and National Security Leaders Agree - time to support the first-step agreement with Iran

American Security Project releases a statement from retired military leaders

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, leading military and national security experts released a statement on the need to support the first-step P5+1 agreement with Iran.

The leaders, who form part of The American Security Project's Consensus for American Security, noted that "resolving the Iranian nuclear threat through diplomacy is far better than the alternative" and that "we should give this initial deal a chance to succeed while the international community closely monitors Iranian compliance, and works to achieve a resolution to the Iranian nuclear program."

The statement:

This first-step agreement with Iran represents a good way forward.

Under the preliminary deal, Iran must halt further advancement of its nuclear program. There is no doubt that without this deal, Iran would continue to develop greater nuclear capabilities. This six-month agreement includes a rigorous inspection and transparency regime.

Congress deserves credit for enacting credible sanctions legislation. Along with executive branch efforts, these sanctions brought Iran to the table. Now, this new agreement presents the international community with a prime opportunity to test whether Iran is serious about compliance before implementing a final, more comprehensive deal. The current deal does provide limited sanctions relief—but this represents only a small fraction of the total pressure being exerted against Iran, and is completely reversible if Iran fails to comply with the preliminary agreement.

For now, this first step deserves our full support.

Resolving the Iranian nuclear threat through diplomacy is far better than the alternative. As retired military leaders, we know first-hand the enormous consequences of military action.

The hard part will come later when the P5+1 seek to negotiate a final agreement that will eliminate any possibility of Iran developing a nuclear weapons capability.

We should give this initial deal a chance to succeed while the international community closely monitors Iranian compliance, and works to achieve a resolution to the Iranian nuclear program.

Sincerely,

Lieutenant General John "Glad" Castellaw, USMC (Retired)

Lieutenant General Robert G. Gard Jr., USA (Retired)

Lieutenant General Norman Seip, USAF (Retired)

Major General Marcelite J. Harris, USAF (Retired)

Brigadier General John Adams, USA (Retired)

Brigadier General Stephen Cheney, USMC (Retired)

Brigadier General John Johns, USA (Retired)

The Consensus is an initiative of the American Security Project and is a group of influential military and national security leaders who have come together to highlight growing support for a new, sustainable and comprehensive national security policy. 

ABOUT THE AMERICAN SECURITY PROJECT

The American Security Project is a non-profit, non-partisan public policy and research organization dedicated to fostering knowledge and understanding of a range of national security issues, promoting debate about the appropriate use of American power, and cultivating strategic responses to 21st century challenges. For more information, visit www.americansecurityproject.org.

SOURCE American Security Project