Morgan Griffith on Iran Deal

From U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith (R-VA-9):

"Iran Agreement – A Suspect Side Deal

In a previous column, I noted my opposition to the proposed Iran deal, as well as the opposition of Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and several other notable Democrats. At that time, I identified several of my concerns: Why did the Administration negotiate this deal without having included the handful of American prisoners being held in Iran? How is this not a treaty? What are the secret side deals?

The Associated Press last week reported that “Iran will be allowed to use its own inspectors to investigate a site it has been accused of using to develop nuclear arms, operating under a secret agreement with the U.N. agency [the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA] that normally carries out such work…” The site referred to in that quote is the Parchin nuclear site, described by NBC News as Iran’s “most sensitive known military complex.”

Also noted in the Associated Press report: “The Parchin agreement was worked out between the IAEA and Iran. The United States and the five other world powers were not party to it but were briefed by the IAEA and endorsed it as part of the larger package.” CNN reported that the specifics of the Parchin inspections “were not included in the nuclear agreement.”

This ‘side deal’ – allowing Iran to inspect itself – is unusual at best, and foolish at worst. When I apply for a life insurance policy, the insurance company verifies the health information, including taking their own samples. The United States should not assume Iran will tell us the truth."