Middle East policy experts who helped write the Iran nuclear deal into law expect Vice President Kamala Harris to pursue a similar agreement with Iran if she wins the presidential election.
“The idea that we can reopen the old nuclear deal is long gone. Iran's nuclear program has progressed beyond any previous limits. A robust, verifiable nuclear deal that curbs and deploys the ability to accelerate a nuclear weapon must be the goal,” said Joel Rubin, a Democratic strategist and former House assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs under the Obama administration.
“The best way to achieve that is a robust, verified nuclear deal… Any realistic president would support that. And that's Kamala Harris. She's a realistic president-elect.”
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A former senior Obama administration official said Vice President Kamala Harris should forge some form of a new Iran nuclear deal. (Kenny Holston Pool/Getty Images)
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, was signed in 2015 by Iran, the member states of the United Nations National Security Council, and the European Union.
Republicans and some moderate Democrats opposed the deal, saying it was too weak to effectively curb the Islamic regime's nuclear ambitions, and hard-line U.S. Iran hawks argued that lifting sanctions on Iran would only embolden anti-Western leaders.
President Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018.
But allies of former President Barack Obama argue it's a necessary compromise to limit the threat of Iran's nuclear capability and a sure way to bring Iran to the negotiating table.
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Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei opened the door to new talks this week. (Iranian Leadership Press Office/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
“There must be a way to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions. If Iran acquires a nuclear weapon, it will be a threat to the region, the world and of course the United States. But it will not be an easy path,” Rubin said.
During her brief 2020 presidential campaign, Harris said she would rejoin the Iran nuclear deal if elected president.
It is unclear whether she maintains this stance in her 2024 campaign platform, but she could be exposed to accusations of emboldening a Republican-led Iran at a time when it is already becoming aggressive toward the United States and its allies.
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As president, Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
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Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday suggested Iran could return to nuclear deal talks, saying there was “no harm” in talking with “enemies” in “certain circumstances,” according to the Associated Press.
A State Department spokesman Radio Free EuropeBut he said rejoining the agreement was “not being considered at this time.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Harris' campaign for comment.
