Ranking Member Shaheen Statement on Reported Iran Agreement

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on the reported terms of the Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran.

"The White House has not released the memorandum of understanding, so neither Congress nor the American people can fully assess what the Administration agreed to. If the reported details of the Iran agreement are accurate, this would represent a catastrophically bad outcome for a war that should have never happened. At the cost of 14 service members' lives and hundreds of injuries, significant damage to our embassies and military bases, billions of dollars and higher prices for Americans, President Trump has offered concession after concession to the Iranian regime for next to nothing in return.

"Based on the reported terms, Iran is simply reaffirming its previously stated position that it will not seek a nuclear program and in return it is getting sanctions relief, billions in unfrozen funds, $300 billion in fresh investments facilitated by the United States and a green light for its missile, drone and proxy forces to continue threatening its neighbors. On top of that, Iran now knows that it can open and close the Strait of Hormuz at a whim, holding the global economy hostage. It is also unacceptable that this agreement appears to leave open the possibility that Iran could impose transit fees through the Strait after the 60-day period expires.

"I'm glad that the conflict has finally ended and hope the ceasefire holds. But we must be clear-eyed that President Trump's war was completely flawed in its intent and execution. None of the President's objectives have been achieved, Iran has won significant financial concessions, America's relationships globally are in tatters and the new, even more hardline regime in Tehran is emboldened. President Trump made a historic mistake in pulling out of the JCPOA and his actions in this war have only compounded those errors. Now, the American people are paying the price with higher costs in every aspect of life and tens of billions in tax dollars spent.

"The President must immediately release the full terms of his agreement with Iran so Congress and the American public can review it for themselves."

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