Decision-Point Exercise: The Iran Nuclear Deal

You are the Military Legislative Assistant to a Democratic Senator from New York. It is 2014, and President Obama is engaged in negotiations with Iran about limiting Iran’s nuclear capability. The U.S. Constitution grants the President the authority to negotiate agreements and the Senate the power to ratify treaties. However, President Obama lacked the necessary votes to ratify a treaty with Iran, so he pursued a Presidential Agreement instead. These agreements are easier to conclude since they do not require Senate ratification but are also more vulnerable to being overturned by subsequent administrations.

Congress, seeking a voice in the negotiations, began circulating letters to build political consensus around various opinions. The Senator needs to decide which letter to support. Which letter would you recommend the Senator to sign?

Considerations:

• What do you need to know about Iran and its capabilities?
• What do you need to know about the Senator’s constituents in New York?
• What do you need to know about the International Atomic Agency?
• What do you need to know about the UN?
• What are the key points about Iran and its policy and concerns regarding national security?
• What information do you need to collect to make an informed decision?

Based on the gathered information and analysis, recommend a letter for the Senator to support. Your recommendation should reflect a thorough understanding of the complexities surrounding the Iran nuclear negotiations and the potential implications for U.S. and global security.

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