Blinken: JCPOA Bought Us 10, 15, 20 Years of Non-Nuclear Iran Depending on the Different Constraints

EXCERPT:

BLINKEN: “We assessed back then, it’s been publicly reported that in all likelihood if we went with the program, we might gain a couple of years at best that Iran would rebuild and it would rebuild deeper underground. It would be harder to get out and we’D be right back where we started. On the other hand, doing the hard work of diplomacy, getting a deal bought us, in the case of the JCPOA. 10, 15, 20 years, depending on the different constraints. And at that point, had the Iranians decided, OK, the deal is now sunsetted, the different provisions have now expired, we’re going to go for a nuclear program, a nuclear weapon even. Well, what typically happens is you either renegotiate or extend. And if they don’t want to do that, well, the military option is still there, except with a lot more information because during this time you’ve had inspectors looking all throughout Iran and what they’re up to, where they’re up to it. And so, we would have been fine. The only thing that the Iranians really got was money.”