1. United States
2. S.C.
3. Letter

Obama's deal with Iran, officially the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was a 2015 landmark nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1. It imposed strict limits on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. The deal required Iran to downblend its enriched uranium stockpile, reduce its centrifuges by two-thirds, and submit to unprecedented international inspections. Trump removed us from the deal with Iran in 2018, during his first term. He did this despite being the best guarantee we have ever had to check Iran's nuclear capacity. Then Trump took the United States into a war of choice in Iran earliee this year, without the support of the American people or the international community. After months of destruction, death, economic upheaval, and the erosion of America in the eyes of the international community, Trump has bargained away everything the P5+1 had secured in the earlier agreement with Iran. Trump has now proposed giving Iran 300 billions of dollars for reparations, significant sanctions and relief (that will also put billions of dollars in theri pockets), and a future promise of Iran and Oman controlling the Strait of Hormuz and charging for passage. Iran will also maintain their military capacities. This is the agreement of an aggressor to an aggrieved party, and it would have never been necessary without this war with Iran. To be clear, this was a war of choice, waged without consideration to international law, international partners, and our own national laws governing warfare. Trump does not bear responsibility for this humiliating and devastating loss alone. The Republican controlled Congress abdicated its responsibility to protect our international interests by placing checks on his capricious and dangerous war. And because Trump is power hungry and has a bruised ego, it is unlikely to be the last time he acts in such a reckless, warmongering manner. Congress must act now to assert its authority over waging war! Trump continues to assert he is at war with boats in the Pacific, now for more than one year, which also violates international law and Congress has not stepped in. Cuba and Greenland continue to be in the front of his mind for military action, with Pete Hegseth egging him on. It is time for Congress to step up and check these action, and also hold Trump and Hegseth accountable.