Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who has said remaining in the Iran nuclear deal would be in America’s national security interest, told Congress Thursday that the 2015 agreement provides for intrusive inspections that help ensure Iran can’t develop nuclear weapons anytime soon.
Mattis said he has reviewed the 156-page Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreement thoroughly, including a classified protocol, and testified that while it’s “an imperfect arms control agreement,” it does provide significant access to what Iran is doing.
“It is written almost with an assumption that Iran would try to cheat, so the verification, what is in there is actually pretty robust, as far as our intrusive ability to get in,” Mattis told the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Whether or not that is sufficient, that is a valid question.”
Mattis said the discussions about whether the U.S. should withdraw from the deal continue in the White House.
“I can assure you no decision has been made,” he said.
President Trump has said he will make a decision by May 12 whether to withdraw from the the Obama-era agreement, which this week he called “insane” and “ridiculous” for failing to contain Iran’s other malign activities.
Mattis suggested the agreement should be considered apart from Iran’s support for terrorism, and other threats.
“I think we need to focus on what is in best interest of Middle East stability and the threat that Iran poses … with its nuclear program if [the JCPOA] does not get extended and maintain the intrusive verification,” Mattis said.
At the same time, Mattis discounted the argument that by abrogating the Iran agreement, Trump would show the U.S. to be an untrustworthy negotiating partner, and thereby undermine nuclear talks with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.
“I would say in that case, in light of Kim’s family and himself breaking every international treaty, every agreement they have ever made, whether it’s been with the Republic of Korea or with the United States, I am less concerned with that ripple effect right now,” Mattis said.
