Biden: Risking Iran nuclear deal ‘isolates’ US

Former Vice President Joe Biden on Friday said President Trump’s decision to decertify Iran’s compliance with an international nuclear deal would “isolate” the U.S.

“Unilaterally putting the deal at risk does not isolate Iran,” Biden said in a statement posted on Facebook. “It isolates us.”

Trump on Friday announced he would not re-certify Iran’s compliance with the multilateral Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which the president is required to do every 90 days under the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act.

{mosads}”This decision will cost us leverage. It will weaken our unity with our allies. It will damage our credibility,” Biden said in the extensive post.

Biden wrote the decision “goes against reason and evidence.”

Defense Secretary James Mattis said at a Senate Armed Forces committee hearing this month that remaining in the Iran nuclear deal is in the best interest of American national security, something Biden cited in his post.

The Obama-era deal offered Iran relief from sanctions in return for limitations on the country’s nuclear program, a long-running point of concern for many Western nations. 

The former vice president said Trump’s decision would have “detrimental effects” on U.S. foreign relations and hinder diplomatic relations with other adversaries. He urged Congress to act on the issue in consensus with international allies. 

Trump in his speech Friday called on Congress to pass new benchmarks Iran will need to meet in order to avoid additional U.S. sanctions. He did not ask Congress to impose new sanctions or completely remove the U.S. from the 2015 agreement.