Since the killing of Mahsa Zhina Amini, it is all the more clear that it is not appropriate to re-enter the JCPOA, or any other deal that ignores the Iranian Regime’s systemic human rights abuses.

The JCPOA does not concern itself with women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, political rights, or even the most basic human rights. It only addressed Iran’s nuclear issue, and in fact addressed it poorly, by serving as an agreement that empowered the Iranian Regime instead of Iran’s people. 

By re-entering the JCPOA, the Iranian Regime will be given access to currently blocked funds, which will enable it to engage in more malignant activity in the Middle East and beyond. We are now aware that Ukrainian civilians have been killed by Iranian-made drones previously purchased by Russia. The Iranian Regime will conflate its participation in the JCPOA with legitimization of the Regime, a tactic that it has used for years with international organizations and multilateral agreements.

Re-entering the JCPOA will signal to the Iranian Regime that it can continue its oppression of political dissent, and that the international community will turn a blind eye to the struggle for democracy in Iran. The consequences of this policy will outlast our lifetimes, and undermine the values of freedom, fairness and justice that the United States is founded upon.

The Iranian Regime is feeling the heat from months of sustained and coordinated pressure, both inside and outside of Iran. Rejoining the JCPOA now would be a clever move to deflect attention away from the Woman Life Freedom movement. We do not want the Regime to harness the JCPOA to save itself in the face of global condemnation, or to strike a fatal blow to Iranian protestors, literally or figuratively. 

The Iranian-American community's message has been very clear, Biden Administration should not re-enter the JCPOA, or sign any deal with Islamic Republic of Iran. Our community consists of millions of voters in the United State and we will vote accordingly in the upcoming elections.