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Last Updated on December 3, 2014.

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Organizations

Americans for Peace Now “All those who are genuinely concerned with the challenge posed by Iran’s nuclear program should continue to… support this extension in negotiations. Diplomacy still offers the best chance to resolve concerns… and to avoid new military conflict.” [11/24]
Atlantic Council “The Iran Task Force recommends that everyone refrain from actions that could jeopardize a final deal. As Secretary of State John Kerry said in announcing the extension, ‘the world is safer’ with the interim agreement still in place.” [11/25]
Arms Control Association “New sanctions legislation against Iran would undermine the chance for diplomacy designed to block Iran’s potential nuclear weapons pathways and to provide the additional transparency to guard against a clandestine program.” [11/24]
Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation “Over the past year, Iran has complied with the interim agreement. By continuing the talks, Iran’s nuclear program remains frozen, and negotiators can continue to work out the details of a good deal.” [11/24]
Council for a Livable World “The stakes are too high to allow hardliners in the US and Iran to torpedo a deal. That means Congress must ask tough questions, but allow negotiators the space to press for a good deal, and then verify it makes us safer.” [11/24]
Friends Committee on National Legislation “Almost 400 citizen advocates join FCNL on Capitol Hill this week making the case to Congress that diplomacy works. Our request to members of Congress: to speak favorably and publicly for diplomacy about the opportunity for reaching an agreement with Iran on their nuclear program.” [11/21] 
Global Zero “The world is safer today than it was a year ago, thanks to the interim agreement and on-going negotiations. The stakes are high and the alternatives to a deal are very dangerous. We support continuing the effort to resolve remaining differences and reach a deal.” [11/24]
J Street “Those of us who would regard a nuclear-armed Iran as a serious threat should work to ensure that Iran’s nuclear program remains frozen and subject to daily inspection. That is why attempts to legislate new sanctions or other measures that would violate and violate the interim agreement at this critical moment are dangerous and irresponsible.” [11/24]
MoveOn.org and CREDO “The agreement being negotiated has the potential to stand as a powerful example demonstrating the power of tough, principled diplomacy. It’s worth the additional time it will take to get these issues right. Members of Congress must avoid any new sanctions that could undermine negotiations and put our nation on a path to another war.” [11/24]
National Iranian American Council “It is critical that Congress continue to give U.S. negotiators the flexibility they need to win a strong nuclear deal. We are too close to the finish line to allow defeat to be snatched from the jaws of victory.” [11/24]
National Security Network “The new extension agreement further rolls back Iran’s nuclear program and stockpiles of enriched uranium, and enforces this progress with an expanded verification regime. The deal carries forward the freeze on Iran’s nuclear program from the JPOA and commits Iran to completely halt all uranium enrichment. Congress risks losing the progress made in rolling back Iran’s nuclear program and the chance of a diplomatic solution if it pursues new sanctions legislation.” [12/3]
PAAIA “Iranian Americans would like to see a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear dispute with Iran. A successfully negotiated settlement will increase Iran’s engagement with the international community. This will help hold Iran accountable to its human rights obligations.” [11/24]
Peace Action “The extension of international talks with Iran will continue to roll back Iran’s nuclear program (and) make the U.S. and the world a safer place.” [11/24]
Physicians for Social Responsibility “A diplomatic solution is the only answer and undermining negotiations doesn’t help. An agreement with Iran will not only help solve the nuclear problem, but will also open other diplomatic opportunities to stabilize the Middle East.” [11/20]
Ploughshares Fund “These talks are an historic opportunity to prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb and prevent another war in the Middle East. Diplomacy is working. Under the interim agreement, Iran froze and rolled back its nuclear activities. Under the extension, Iran’s nuclear program remains frozen. We must give diplomacy a chance. There is no viable alternative.” [11/24]
Truman National Security Project “Calls to enact additional sanctions now are shortsighted and counterproductive. Unilateral moves by the United States risk derailing these talks.” [11/19]
United Methodist Church- General Board of Church and Society “The United Methodist Church supports working toward peaceful resolution of issues with Iran.” [12/4]
VoteVets.org “Congress should support refrain from passing any new sanctions. The initial deal resulted in the dilution of Iran’s stockpile of uranium and an agreement that they would not install any new centrifuges. Last week’s extension is proof that the process is working.” [12/2]
Women’s Action for New Directions “A comprehensive agreement is within reach; WAND strongly urges U.S. Members of Congress to refrain from legislative actions that would undermine the extension. Taking such action could unravel the agreement altogether.” [11/24]
Win Without War “While our diplomats continue the hard work of resolving one of America’s toughest national security challenges, the Iranian nuclear program will remain frozen. Members of Congress need to decide which side of history they want to be on. Do they support letting diplomacy work, or will they put our nation back on the path towards a war with Iran?” [11/24]

Experts

44 former senior officials, ambassadors and military leaders “We support the decision to continue negotiations with Iran. The extension of these negotiations will continue to advance US national security interests and those of our allies in the Middle East. Congress should refrain from taking action such as introducing additional sanctions that risk undermining these negotiations.” [The Iran Project, 11/26]
Barry Blechman, Stimson Center “The decision to extend the deadline for negotiations with Iran is a step in the right direction. Iran’s nuclear program remains frozen during the negotiations. A nuclear agreement with Iran cannot be permitted to fail.” [11/25]
John Bradshaw, National Security Network “Members of Congress need to put these negotiations in historical perspective and understand that it will require some political courage to take a step that will increase America’s security in the long run.” [11/23]
Michael Breen, Truman National Security Project “Iran’s nuclear program remains verifiably frozen, as it has been for over a year. Today’s extension continues that progress and shows that the U.S. and the international community remain committed to preventing Iran from developing its nuclear weapons program.” [11/24]
Israeli Brigadier General Uzi Eilam (Ret.) “Some people would say that we should have more sanctions. I would say that it’s not so… This is the time for diplomacy.” [11/21]
Farshad Farahat, Actor, Argo “Without a deal, the human rights crisis in Iran will worsen. If either the talks fail or the US Congress torpedoes an agreement that our negotiators and our allies reach, the single greatest beneficiaries will be the hardliners in Iran.” [11/26]
Hadi Ghaemi, International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran “Human rights in Iran will worsen without a nuclear deal. If Rouhani fails to get a deal, that means he has failed to accomplish his primary goal of lifting sanctions. In such a scenario, he will be politically weak, allowing the hardliners to crack down on any hope of greater freedom in Iran.” [11/21]
General Joseph P. Hoar, Former Commander in Chief of U.S. Central Command “Some in Congress reason that if tough sanctions brought Iran to the negotiating table, even tougher one would make them to capitulate. This is reckless thinking. Our allies oppose another round of sanctions, and unilateral action by the U.S. Congress might well torpedo the international unity that has played the critical role in getting us this far.” [11/21] 
Daryl Kimball, Arms Control Association “Rather than rushing recklessly into a partisan push to impose tougher sanctions, the lame-duck Congress should carefully review the progress achieved so far, help maintain the current freeze of Iran’s program through the interim agreement, and support President Obama’s ongoing effort with our close allies to secure an effective, long-term deal as soon as possible.” [11/24]
Karim Sadjadpour, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace “A pause in Iran’s nuclear program must not be measured against a utopian ideal but realistic alternatives. Premature unilateral U.S. sanctions could threaten the unity among Washington’s negotiating partners. They also risk precipitating an escalation that could result in military conflict.” [11/24] 
Ali Vaez, International Crisis Group “As Secretary Kerry said, only ‘fools’ would walk away when so much progress has been made. Getting an agreement won’t be easy, but there is every reason for Iran and the West to continue trying.” [11/27]

Editorial Boards

Baltimore Sun “Western economic sanctions are still in place, Iran’s uranium enrichment program remains suspended, and international inspectors are still on the ground monitoring the country’s nuclear sites. In short, the pressure is still on Iran to reach a deal. The fact that the two sides are reported to have made important ‘progress’ in recent days is cause for hope that the remaining outstanding issues can be resolved.” [11/24]
Bloomberg Editorial Board “The temporary agreement struck a year ago is much better for the U.S. and its partners than it is for Iran. Almost all of the sanctions remain in place, and the most worrying aspects of Iran’s nuclear program stay frozen.” [11/24]
Los Angeles Times Editorial Board “The decision to keep talking is vastly preferable to the alternative. A rupture in the negotiations would have freed Iran from its commitment- which the International Atomic Energy Agency says Tehran has honored- not to accelerate its efforts to develop nuclear energy while negotiations proceed.” [11/24]
New York Times Editorial Board “Deciding to extend negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program is far better than allowing the process to collapse. There is no sensible alternative to a diplomatic solution, and the major powers must continue toward that goal.” [11/27]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Keep talking: Engaging Iran is the best course for all parties.” [11/28]
USA Today Editorial Board “The choice is clear: Give up on negotiations and switch to a path that seems to lead rapidly toward military confrontation, or…buy negotiators more time to attain an agreement that could remove a deeply troubling nuclear threat.” [11/24]

December 3, 2014