Sen. Tom Cotton’s anti-Iran diplomacy amendment to the Senate Energy and Water appropriations bill would have undermined the Iran deal and might have obstructed the deal’s successful implementation.

Update: SUCCESS! On May 11, the Senate passed the Energy and Water appropriations bill, while rejecting the inclusion of Senator Tom Cotton’s anti-Iran diplomacy amendment. This amendment would have undermined the Iran deal and may have obstructed its successful implementation.

This move would undermine the U.S. commitment in JCPOA to refrain from new nuclear sanctions.

Arms Control Association: “Iran would likely perceive the amendment as violating U.S. obligations not to impose new nuclear-related sanctions under the nuclear deal. It would also interfere with the U.S. objective of keeping Iran’s stockpile of heavy water to a minimum.[…] Before acting, Congress should obtain a legal determination as to whether or not the prohibition constitutes a sanction.”

U.S. purchase of 32 tons of Iran’s heavy water will deliver these benefits: 

Guard Against Iranian Misuse

Heavy water can be used in the production of nuclear weapons or energy, if a nation possesses the appropriate infrastructure. By purchasing a portion of Iran’s stockpile, the U.S. helps minimize Iran’s supply and prevents potential misuse.

Encourage Others to Buy Heavy Water, While Signaling Limit to U.S. Interest

As the Wall Street Journal reported, “U.S. officials said the purchase, signed Friday in Vienna, was driven by Obama administration concerns that Iran doesn’t have the capacity yet to quickly reduce its stockpile of the material as required under the July nuclear deal.”

U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz: “The idea is: Ok we tested it, it’s perfectly good heavy water. It meets spec […] That will be a statement to the world, ‘You want to buy heavy water from Iran, you can buy heavy water from Iran. It’s been done. Even the United States did it.’” (4/22 WSJ)

Department of Energy: “The United States will not be Iran’s customer forever.” (4/22, AP)

Benefit U.S. National Laboratories with Material Not Produced in United States

The U.S. has not produced heavy water domestically since 1981. Heavy water will benefit national laboratories and can be used for commercial and research applications.

Thom Mason, director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee: “We’re securing material that will allow us to do great science.” (4/22 Science)

Anti-Diplomacy Amendment Would Send a Dangerous Anti-JCPOA Signal from Congress

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest: “We made clear our commitment to a principle that ideologically motivated policy riders are not appropriate for appropriations bills.[…] His focus is on undermining the effective implementation of this agreement that prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.” (4/27 Politico)