‘Not a country that has earned our trust’

The Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ issued the following statement on July 14:

Preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is a number-one priority of Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ. Today, in response to the announcement of the accord between Iran and the P5+1 on Iran’s nuclear weapons, we want to recognize the hard work that President Obama, Secretary of State Kerry, and Under Secretary of State Sherman have put into crafting this agreement. Federation has supported diplomatic efforts throughout the process.

The threat of Iran obtaining weapons is a matter of the gravest concern and utmost urgency to the world. Iran has continually violated the human rights of its people, funded terrorist organizations, threatened annihilation of Israel, worked to destabilize neighboring countries in the region, supported Holocaust denial, and created a covert nuclear weapons program. It is not a country that has earned our trust.

Therefore, federation welcomes the close scrutiny by Congress and the debates on the merits of the agreement. The 60-day congressional review window opens a critical period in which to examine the agreement to certify that it has the rigorous inspection and compliance components necessary to ensure that Iran does not continue to increase its uranium enrichment. Additionally, we call on the international community to demand that all concerted efforts continue to be made to guarantee that Iran will never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.

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The federation’s Community Relations Committee — the government affairs, public policy, and advocacy arm of federation — will continue to monitor the situation; strongly advocate for an agreement that ensures the safety and security of the United States, Israel, and our allies in the Gulf region; and engage closely with our congressional delegation.