Sen. Cruz: P5+1 and Iran Must Publish Agreed Parameters of Joint Framework Agreement

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry requesting all members of the P5+1 and Iran produce and make public a joint framework agreement outlining the parameters that have been agreed upon in the Iran nuclear negotiations, in light of multiple news reports citing conflicting fact sheets and statements released by parties to the ongoing talks.

Read the full text of the letter here:

April 17, 2015

The Honorable John Kerry
Secretary of State
Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Kerry:

The March 31, 2015 deadline for the framework agreement between the P5+1 and Iran has come and gone. While there appears to be consensus that some agreement was reached (the so-called "Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action"), there is no consensus on the actual parameters of that agreement-including such critical items as the scope of Iran's ongoing nuclear program, the extent of the IAEA verification regime, and the schedule for nuclear-related sanctions relief by both the United States and the international community.

The Department of State released a fact sheet on the JCPA on April 2, 2015, but since that date discrepancies on key elements of the framework have come to light. Not only was this fact sheet not approved by the P5+1 or the Government of Iran, but it is also inconsistent with fact sheets and statements released by the EU, Iran, and, reportedly, France.

As you know, absent Congressional approval in the form of Senate ratification as a treaty or passage into law by both Houses, any agreement the Obama administration reaches with Iran will not be binding on future administrations. To engage in this vital work, and in order to do it responsibly, it is imperative that Members of Congress have clarity on whatever is actually in this framework. I also suggest that the American people, whom we were elected to represent, also share in this knowledge.

I therefore request all members of the P5+1 and Iran produce and make public a joint framework agreement outlining the parameters that have been agreed upon, and those that will be addressed in the event negotiations continue in both classified and unclassified form.

Sincerely,

Ted Cruz
United States Senator

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