Pax Christi USA condemns Trump decision to leave Iran Deal

Pax Christi USA has issued the following statement:

Pax Christi USA condemns in the strongest of terms Mr Trump's decision to have the United States back out of the Iran Deal. This decision is short sighted and opens the door to war or the resurgence of Iran's nuclear program. The Iran Deal has been successful in ensuring that Iran dismantle their nuclear program and not create new ones, since Iran was encouraged to do so by having greater economic opportunities through relief from secondary sanctions. Essentially, Iran stopped their nuclear program because the Iran Deal made it economically expedient to do so.

The United States by pulling out of the deal, has given Iran less incentive. This was a bold and insane move by Mr Trump given that it opens the door to Iran re-establishing its nuclear program, and there is no clear benefit, economic or otherwise, to the US pulling out. Some have postulated that this move is merely a political stunt to undo the progress that President Obama and his administration cultivated by establishing the Iran deal during his presidency.

Large consequences, like war and/or Iran recommitting to its nuclear program, may come from this decision. Experts say that the US backing out is the slow but certain disintegration of the diplomatic process with other world leaders.

Pax Christi USA is once again disheartened and disillusioned by both the process and the motivation behind Mr Tumps' decision. What we see with this decision is a brutal demolition of a diplomatic solution that was working towards assuring peace with justice. May the conscience of the American people see in this decision yet another example of the erosion of sustainable peace.