Notwithstanding that, the agreement is encountering fierce, sometimes hyperbolic opposition, in the U.S. Senate and elsewhere. We note that truth is difficult to discern if people give way to emotion. It is our view the expressed opposition to the Iran agreement is grounded more in passion than reason or evidence.

We base support for the Joint Plan as negotiated on a rational analysis of factors such as the following:

First, what practical alternative is there to this agreement as negotiated? The answer is essentially none, if a diplomatic solution is to prevail. Some claim that a “better deal” could be negotiated. But this is an illusion. There is no credible evidence that Iran would be open to any further negotiation; and it is unlikely our allies would be either.

We base support for the Joint Plan as negotiated on a rational analysis of factors such as the following:

First, what practical alternative is there to this agreement as negotiated? The answer is essentially none, if a diplomatic solution is to prevail. Some claim that a “better deal” could be negotiated. But this is an illusion. There is no credible evidence that Iran would be open to any further negotiation; and it is unlikely our allies would be either.

The geopolitical reality is that the more one country pushes for further sanctions, the more it risks cracking the delicate balance of multilateral support for the sanctions regime. Tougher sanctions won’t work absent multilateral cooperation in their execution. Some allies may oppose enhanced sanctions to avoid harm to their own economies. Worse, tougher sanctions could drive Iran to establish closer economic ties with China and Russia.

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