Lew says ‘impractical’ to demand that Iran capitulate

Iran’s economy is 20 percent smaller now thanks to international sanctions, says Jacob Lew, secretary of the Treasury.

If Iran violates its commitments we will be able “promptly snap back” sanctions, and the US “has the ability to force” the reinstatement of the international sanctions, he says.

“The United States will also maintain powerful sanctions targeting Iran’s support for terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and its sponsors in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps–Quds Force; its destabilizing support to the Houthis in Yemen; its backing of Assad’s brutal regime; its missile program; and its human rights abuses at home. Just this week, Treasury sanctioned several Hezbollah leaders, building on designations last month that targeted the group’s front companies and facilitators. We will not be providing any sanctions relief to any of these lines of activity and will not be delisting from sanctions the IRGC, the Quds Force, or any of their subsidiaries or senior officials.”

He says he understands the concerns but believes the deal is the best option.

“Iran’s ties to terror groups are exactly why we need” to ensure Iran doesn’t obtain nuclear weapons, he says, calling that a “nightmare scenario.”

“President Rouhani was elected on a platform of economic revitalization and faces a political imperative to meet those unfulfilled promises,” says Lew.

He says the US will “aggressively” handle Iranian attempts to fund Hezbollah and other terror groups.

“Backing away from this deal, on the notion that it would be feasible and preferable to escalate the economic pressure and somehow obtain a capitulation — would be a mistake. Even if one believed that continuing sanctions pressure was a better course than resolving the threat of Iran’s nuclear program, that choice is not available,” he says.

He says it’s “impractical” and “unrealistic” to demand a capitulation.