August 13, 2024 — New York, NY
As Iran and its proxies threaten an imminent attack against Israel, American Jewish Committee (AJC) this week urged the U.S. administration, America's G7 allies, and key strategic partners to take a firm and unified stance to counter the Islamic Republic of Iran’s conventional, terror, and nuclear threats. This ask follows escalating actions not only from Tehran but also the regime’s many proxies throughout the Middle East, including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria.
In a letter to more than 30 world leaders, AJC CEO Ted Deutch, AJC Europe Managing Director Simone Rodan-Benzaquen, and Director of AJC’s Transatlantic Institute Daniel Schwammenthal warned, “[d]espite Western engagement designed to moderate the regime’s behavior, the Islamic Republic and its proxies have intensified their internal oppression and external aggression. The regime has accelerated executions, arrests, and torture domestically while being the biggest exporter of terrorism and fueling every conflict in the region. Its proxies, primarily Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, and Shiite militias in Iraq, have murdered, injured, and abducted thousands of civilians, fired many thousands of missiles at Israeli towns and villages, turning some 80,000 Israelis into internal refugees, and killed and wounded numerous U.S. forces. They have violated the laws of international waterways and plotted terror attacks against former U.S. officials, Jews, and Iranian opposition leaders in Europe and the U.S.”
They also note, “[m]ost alarmingly, the latest U.S. intelligence report leaves out, for the first time, the crucial phrase that: ‘Iran is not currently undertaking the key nuclear weapons-development activities that would be necessary to produce a testable nuclear device.’ Instead, the report now says that Iran has ‘undertaken activities that better position it to produce a nuclear device.’”
AJC has long warned of the Iranian regime’s reach and use of proxies to inflict terror and violence against Israel, the U.S., Europe, and other nations around the world. Specifically, the organization is calling on the West to reimpose crippling sanctions to weaken the regime, noting that “[t]he JCPOA includes a key provision to snap back all UN sanctions that was designed as a security measure against Iranian violations far below those Tehran is committing right now.”
The full text of the letter is below.
We are writing to you on behalf of American Jewish Committee (AJC) to express our deep concern regarding the alarming nuclear violations by the Islamic Republic of Iran and its escalating aggression, as well as that of its proxies, against the U.S., the State of Israel and the broader Middle East. We urgently seek your support during this critical time as Iran’s actions threaten global peace and security.
The Iranian regime has long been a destabilizing force on the world stage. It has continuously called for the annihilation of Israel and the United States, supported terrorism either directly or through its proxies, interfered subversively in the internal affairs of other nations, and committed pervasive human rights abuses. The horrific massacre perpetrated by Hamas—an Iranian proxy—on October 7th, the ongoing assaults on Israel, U.S. troops, and international maritime security since then by Iranian proxies, and the regime’s unprecedented attack on Israel in April exemplify the regime’s aggressive intentions and highlight the urgent need for a global response.
We appreciate the U.S. Administration, as well as the EU and the E3 governments of Germany, Britain, and France, for their good-faith efforts over the past four years to come to a diplomatic solution with Iran about its nuclear program. The U.S. and its European partners have shown tremendous flexibility and offered generous compromises to encourage the regime in Iran to return to nuclear compliance. Unfortunately, Tehran has rejected all Western overtures and instead ramped up its nuclear program to dangerous levels while reducing International Atomic Energy Agency monitoring.
Most alarmingly, the latest U.S. intelligence report leaves out, for the first time, the crucial phrase that: “Iran is not currently undertaking the key nuclear weapons-development activities that would be necessary to produce a testable nuclear device.” Instead, the report now says that Iran has “undertaken activities that better position it to produce a nuclear device.”
This grave development alone necessitates an emergency policy review to immediately formulate a new strategy to meet this clear and present danger to U.S. and global security.
Iran is not only on the brink of nuclear weapons, it also has the means to deliver them. According to U.S. intelligence, the Islamic Republic has the largest inventory of ballistic missiles in the region, and its work on space launch vehicles would allow it to produce intercontinental ballistic missiles. A nuclear-tipped Iranian missile could soon threaten the Middle East, Europe, and the United States.
This is a crucial moment where the world must demonstrate decisive strength. The onslaught by the Iranian regime, its proxies, and allies is not just a threat to Israel and the Middle East; it represents a concerted effort to overthrow the existing world order. Furthermore, Iran has become Russia’s most critical weapons supplier in its brutal war against Ukraine and is now being supplied by Russia with arms, highlighting its broader destabilizing influence and dangerous alliance.
Despite Western engagement designed to moderate the regime’s behavior, the Islamic Republic and its proxies have intensified their internal oppression and external aggression. The regime has accelerated executions, arrests, and torture domestically while being the biggest exporter of terrorism and fueling every conflict in the region. Its proxies, primarily Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, and Shiite militias in Iraq, have murdered, injured, and abducted thousands of civilians, fired many thousands of missiles at Israeli towns and villages, turning some 80,000 Israelis into internal refugees, and killed and wounded numerous U.S. forces. They have violated the laws of international waterways and plotted terror attacks against former U.S. officials, Jews, and Iranian opposition leaders in Europe and the U.S.
For these reasons, we urge the creation of a coordinated international initiative to confront the Iranian threat. We deeply appreciate the extraordinary efforts of the U.S. Administration to organize a coalition to defend Israel against an impending Iranian attack and, at the same time, believe it is time to move beyond defense to deterrence. The West and its allies must demonstrate both the capability and the will to respond forcefully to further provocations, effectively countering Iran’s conventional, terror, and nuclear threats.
The evidence of the past four years shows that, unfortunately, the regime does not respond to diplomacy. To prevent a nuclear Iran and to stop Iranian aggression that threatens to stoke a regional war, the West must reimpose crippling sanctions to weaken the regime. The JCPOA includes a key provision to snap back all UN sanctions that was designed as a security measure against Iranian violations far below those Tehran is committing right now. It is, therefore, high time to trigger these sanctions.
In addition, such an international coalition must communicate a credible military threat against Iran’s nuclear installations unless Tehran immediately halts its nuclear program, restores all IAEA supervision, and returns to negotiations.
AJC believes that it is vital for the international community, particularly the members of the G7, Arab allies, and the EU, to take a firm and unified stance against Iran’s aggressive actions. At this critical moment, as the threat of another Iranian attack on Israel looms large, your support in these efforts is crucial to ensuring the safety and stability of not only Israel but the broader global community. The regime must understand that its malign actions will no longer be tolerated.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We look forward to your support and decisive action against the threats posed by the Iranian regime.
AJC is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. With headquarters in New York, 25 regional offices across the United States, 15 overseas posts, as well as partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations worldwide, AJC’s mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world. For more, please visit www.ajc.org.
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