No actual signatures on Iran deal has a top Republican worried
Updated 3:04 p.m. ET, 1/24/2014
Washington (CNN) – The interim nuclear deal with Iran and six other world powers was never signed by the representatives who brokered the agreement last November, leading one top Republican House leader to complain it allows Iranian leaders to ignore parts of the agreement, though the Obama administration said concern is unfounded.
The congressman, who only agreed to talk on the condition of anonymity, said the lack of actual signatures could be seen as a way for Iran to ignore provisions that offers Iran modest relief from some international sanctions in exchange for freezing and scaling back parts of its nuclear program.
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"I candidly think (the Obama administration) got snookered," said the GOP congressman. "I think they just wanted a deal," he added.
A senior Obama administration official confirmed to CNN that there are no signatures on the deal but said it is a non-issue.
Noting the interim deal is only a preliminary agreement, a senior administration official said there is nothing unusual about the fact that the agreement was not signed.
"It's not an international treaty," the official told CNN, pointing out Iranian officials have already begun taking "tangible steps" this week in compliance with the so-called "Joint Plan of Action" which was officially implemented on January 20.
"The United States and the European Union have determined that Iran has taken the steps it committed to doing by or on the first day of implementation regarding its nuclear program," State Department spokeswoman said in a January 20 statement.
The senior administration official dismissed the criticism of the lack of signatures as "grasping at straws" from members who are dissatisfied with the agreement.
Members of Congress from both parties have voiced their frustrations with the six month interim deal and have proposed new sanctions aimed at applying more pressure on the Iranian government. White House officials have argued new sanctions would be counterproductive and harm prospects for a diplomatic breakthrough that could prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
The same administration official insisted the threat of additional sanctions provides more leverage for the White House than any signatures.
"The Iranians are well aware of what happens if we can't conclude a comprehensive agreement," the official said.
Earlier this week, top Iranian officials accused the White House of overselling what Iran has agreed to do as part of the interim deal.
"White House tries to portray it as a - basically, a dismantling of Iran's nuclear program. That is the word that they used time and again," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif said in an interview with CNN's Jim Sciutto.
"But we are not dismantling any centrifuges. We are not dismantling any equipment," Zarif added.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said such dismantling would have to come in a future, more comprehensive agreement. Iranian officials, Carney said, were playing semantics in response to domestic political pressures.
Carney said the lack of signatures is irrelevant. "There is no question that Iran and the members of P5-plus-1 have entered into an agreement," Carney told reporters Friday.
Former State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the addition of international monitors inside Iranian nuclear facilities during the interim agreement holds the most promise in the long-term effort to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear arsenal.
"The presence or absence of a signature is unimportant. Ultimately they are either going to reach an agreement or they are not," Crowley said.
only the totally incompetent obama administration could claim they have an agreement when nobody has signed it. it is amazing how absolutely naive and totally incompetent these clowns are. then again, to them it is all about the show, the illusion of an agreement. the obama smoke and mirror show continues on unabated....
More GOP grand-standing:
If there were signatures – I am worried (serious look) about Iran not standing behind signatures.
If NO signatures – I am worried (serious look) about Iran not signing it.
I hate it when the GOP doesn't say what they mean: They want to sanction then bomb Iran – just say it!
So this anonymous GOP person WILL trust Iran when they sign it. Hypocrites.
"I candidly think (the Obama administration) got snookered," said the GOP congressman. "I think they just wanted a deal," he added.
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I candidly think that you've got to be snookered to say something likie that anonymously. If you had a fraction of the "take ownership morals" that conservatives always claim to have, then you wouldn't talking in such a cowardly fashion.
Of course, all the administration wanted was a deal of some kind. I think that they wanted to test Iran, while you, Mr. Anoanymous, probably want a war. I realize that conservatives don't need valid reasons for starting wars, but I am thankful that liberals do.
"The Iranians are well aware of what happens if we can't conclude a comprehensive agreement," the official said.
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yes they are. the obama administration will do nothing and the iranians will have their nuclear bomb. the iranians know they are dealing wiht a bunch of idiots in the obama adminstration and are playing them for the fools they are.
I don't think that the Iranians would be standing by the signature that would on the agreement if there was one. The Iranians don't understand the concern of the rest of the world which will cause more problems. Many of the Iranians in charge support terrorist groups that attack Israel and US interests.
just saying
only the totally incompetent obama administration could claim they have an agreement when nobody has signed it. it is amazing how absolutely naive and totally incompetent these clowns are. then again, to them it is all about the show, the illusion of an agreement. the obama smoke and mirror show continues on unabated....
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Right on just sprayin' – cause heaven knows that the congressman "who only agreed to talk on the condition of anonymity" knows soooooo much more about the matter than United States and the European Union officials who have spent the better part of the past year working out the deal!
"The United States and the European Union have determined that Iran has taken the steps it committed to doing by or on the first day of implementation regarding its nuclear program,"
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As long as the ball is moving in the right direction, here's one for you conservatives to gripe over.........What difference does it make? lol
Silence DoGood
More GOP grand-standing:
If there were signatures – I am worried (serious look) about Iran not standing behind signatures.
If NO signatures – I am worried (serious look) about Iran not signing it.
I hate it when the GOP doesn't say what they mean: They want to sanction then bomb Iran – just say it!
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I doubt Iran is going to be bombed. But if they are, it wount be by US,, but it will have the tacit approval from whatever administration is in power, AND with the tacit approval of Iran's neighbors. That's what happens to pariah states.
@just saying
only the totally incompetent obama administration could claim they have an agreement when nobody has signed it. it is amazing how absolutely naive and totally incompetent these clowns are. then again, to them it is all about the show, the illusion of an agreement. the obama smoke and mirror show continues on unabated....
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Hey , when you find those WMD's in Iraq give us a call . Till then , keep up the propaganda machine .
Fair is Fair wrote:
I doubt Iran is going to be bombed. But if they are, it wount be by US,, but it will have the tacit approval from whatever administration is in power, AND with the tacit approval of Iran's neighbors. That's what happens to pariah states.
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Please, don't keep believing that. You listened to the GOP 2012 debatex. Republicans showed us what they plan to do.
"... though the Obama administration said concern is unfounded."
The Obama administration consists chiefly of naive fools.
The incompetent GOP fools even say success, is bad maybe after they lose the house in November due to their incompetence and obstruction and are totally out of power they will figure it out.
The "Amateur" Community Organizer demonstrates yet AGAIN, that he is not capable of the job he covets so much.
Ho ho ho ... always amusing to read the Confederate Parties comments. Let's see, so the Confederates didn't even speak to Iran for 34 years, and now they are whining about beginning to negotiate?
President Obama is one of the greatest foreign policy President's ever. He singlehandedly forced Syria and Russia to negotiate the end of their massive chemical weapons supply, over the will of the Confederates, who favored the use of chemical weapons because they hate all Muslims.
Go get em Mr. President – you seem to win every battle you pick, and Americans are proud of the great job you've done.
These are great times for America!