Van Hollen Statement on Trump’s Iran Announcement

Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement on President Trump's announcement that he will not certify Iran's compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA):

"President Trump's decision today increases the likelihood that Iran will restart its nuclear weapons program, decreases the chances that we'll come to a diplomatic solution in the North Korea crisis, and dangerously undermines American credibility and leadership worldwide. The 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran - signed by Britain, France, Germany, the European Union, China, and Russia - is working, as Trump himself has admitted. By refusing to certify that Iran is in compliance, without offering a shred of evidence to back it up, the President has made it clear he's willing to put political grudges before our country's national security. This act will lead both adversaries and allies alike to question our word.

"There is no doubt that Iran has been a menace in the region. It supports the murderous regime of Assad in Syria, supplies terrorist groups like Hezbollah with weaponry, and conducts ballistic missile tests. The United States has and must continue to confront this Iranian aggression, but it is better to confront a non-nuclear Iran than one with nuclear weapons. This move by Trump only isolates the United States, making that effort more difficult."