President Trump’s de-certification of the Iran deal was both sensible and courageous. Faced with a chorus of opposition, the president nevertheless persisted and challenged the very deficient Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. However, a bold presidential policy, if mishandled, may still end up not just prolonging the JCPOA in its current form but also damaging America’s credibility.
Historically, Congress has been both the architect and the custodian of American sanctions policy toward Iran. It was Congress that crafted the crippling sanctions against Iran, often in opposition to the Obama White House that then went on to opportunistically claim credit for them. The specter of congressional action hovered over all U.S.-Iran arms control negotiations and helped nudge the Iranians toward whatever compromises they made.
