Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on Iran

Next week is shaping up to be quite a week on Iran on Capitol Hill (not really that surprising I suppose given all the news this week on negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, the escalation in rhetoric and Sy Hersh's revelations on covert operations funding in his New Yorker article).

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing on "Meeting the Iranian Challenge" on Tuesday, July 8, 2008. The Honorable William J. Burns is the only witness announced so far.

National Peace Council in Iran

The National Peace Council was formally launched on July 3, 2008 in Iran by Shirin Ebadi and more than 70 other prominent intellectuals, academics, dissidents and human rights defenders to advocate a peaceful solution to the current standoff between Iran and the United States. Found members include Ibrahim Yazdi, head Freedom Movement; Hashem Aghajari, who was sentenced to death but pardoned for apostasy; film director Jafar Panahi, winner of the top prizes at the Berlin and Venice film festivals and Iran's leading female film-maker Rakhshan Bani Etemad.

Below is a statement of support from the Nobel Women’s Initiative. The International Herald Tribune, AFP and Associated Press also ran articles on the launch of the National Peace Council.

Nobel Women’s Initiative Supports National Peace Council in Iran

We six women Laureates of the Nobel Women’s Initiative (NWI) express our support for the National Peace Council in Iran. Spurred by increasing concerns over the possibility of military attacks on Iran and the consequences for the human security of the Iranian people, the National Peace Council was founded by prominent Iranian intellectuals, academics, dissidents and human rights defenders to advocate a peaceful solution to the current standoff between Iran and the United States. We join with the National Peace Council in opposing any military action or threats of military action against Iran and in demanding a negotiated resolution to the crisis.

With the threat of war more imminent than ever, Nobel Women’s Initiative believes it is imperative for the international community to support the National Peace Council and efforts of the peace movement inside of Iran as they take a more visible and vocal stand against those both at home and abroad who threaten or advocate military confrontation.

We believe that military action will not resolve any of the outstanding and far-reaching issues between the U.S. and Iran. Military action against Iran will only exacerbate the situation, bringing further chaos to the region and worsening the situation for human rights and democracy. Nobel Women’s Initiative shares the concerns of the National Peace Council that military attacks would have staggering humanitarian, economic, and political consequences for the peoples of Iran and the U.S.

We believe U.S. threats of military attacks, regime change, isolation and sanctions against Iran are counterproductive to the cause of democracy and human rights in Iran. Iranian authorities have used the Bush administration's posturing towards Iran as a pretext to clamp down on Iran's civil society with extensive arrests and prosecutions. Scores of women's rights activists and human rights defenders in Iran have been summoned, arrested and sentenced on charges for threatening “national security.” A military attack on Iran would only further deteriorate the situation for women’s rights activists and human rights defenders.

Instead of threatening military action, sanctions and regime change, we urge the U.S. to drop all preconditions and engage with Iran in comprehensive negotiations on the broad range of outstanding issues between the two countries. Nobel Women’s Initiative also supports the National Peace Council as they call on their own government to engage with the U.S. in comprehensive negotiations for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing on Iran

The House Foreign Affairs Committee has just announced it will hold a full committee hearing entitled "U.S. Policy on Iran" next Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 10 am. The only witness announced so far is the Honorable William J. Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, U.S. Department of State.

Shirin Ebadi and Others Form National Peace Council in Iran

Deeply concerned about the prospects of a U.S. or Israeli military attack on Iran and the consequences for the human security of the Iranian people, Shirin Ebadi and more than 60 other prominent Iranian intellectuals, academics, dissidents and human rights defenders have formed the “National Council for Peace.” The first meeting will be held on tomorrow at the offices of the Defenders of Human Rights in Tehran.

The formation of the National Peace Council demonstrates the increasing priority within Iran to work to prevent any military confrontation.

Monsters and Critics has the first published story on the National Peace Council. More information and statements of international support will be posted soon.

Kucinich on H.Con.Res. 362

On July 1, 2008, Representative Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter opposing H.Con.Res. 362. Below is the full text of the letter.


July 1, 2008

Stop the Escalation of Tensions with Iran
Oppose H. Con. Res. 362

Dear Colleague:

I strongly urge my colleagues to oppose H. Con. Res. 362 when it comes to the Floor following the July 4th recess. Despite the intentions of the sponsors of the legislation, this bill will only serve to escalate tensions between the U.S. and Iran. This bill will play into the hand of those in the Bush Administration who want Congressional license to attack Iran.

The third resolved clause states that there should be imposed “stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains, and cargo entering or departing Iran; and prohibiting the international movement of all Iranian officials not involved in negotiation the suspension of Iran’s nuclear Program.” Enforcement of such a provision would almost certainly imply or require the use of force. Furthermore, it is conceivable that this provision could be construed to constitute the imposition of a naval blockade. Under international law a blockade is classified as an act of war.

The bill leaves the door open for war but is silent on ways to avoid it. The language in clause 3 could be understood to contradict the whereas clause in the bill that states that “nothing in this resolution shall be construed as an authorization of the use of force against Iran.” Furthermore, it is notable that this whereas clause does not include a declaration that the President must seek the approval of Congress before authorizing any use of force against Iran. Nor does it explicitly state that the U.S. will resolve our differences with Iran diplomatically and in a show of good will take the use of force off the table.

The provocative nature of the resolution will appear to Iran to be another round of saber rattling and will inflame additional ill will between our nations. If this body truly wants to find a peaceful solution to Iran’s nuclear program and influence in the Middle East, we must use the best and most credible form of diplomacy at our disposal. The U.S. must engage Iran in direct diplomatic talks without preconditions. Passage of this resolution only escalates our strained relationship with Iran.

I urge my Colleagues to vote against H. Con. Res. 362. If you have any questions please contact Cate Veith...

Sincerely,


/S

Dennis J. Kucinich
Member of Congress

Talking Points on H.Con.Res. 362

The Council for a Livable World has posted new talking points on H.Con.Res. 362, urging members of Congress not to co-sponsor the resolution and to vote "No" if it comes to a vote. The Council concludes this resolution is an extremely provocative and counter-productive measure for a wide range of reasons. Below is the full text.

Vote “No” on H.Con.Res. 362

In the next couple of weeks, the House of Representatives may consider H.Con.Res. 362, a non-binding resolution on Iran. H.Con.Res. 362 is the latest in a series of provocative and counter-productive Congressional initiatives on Iran.

Council for a Livable World joins other organizations in urging Members of Congress not to co-sponsor this provocative measure and to vote “No” on H.Con.Res. 362 if it comes to a vote.

Talking Points on H.Con.Res. 362

• This resolution reprises and magnifies the Bush Administration’s longstanding sticks-and-saber-rattling-and-no-carrots approach to dealing with Iran – an approach that is increasingly recognized even by senior U.S. intelligence and military officials as inadequate and unconstructive.

• Worse still, H. Con. Res. 362 risks reinforcing the most reckless tendencies of those in the Bush administration who have not yet given up on the idea of striking Iran militarily before leaving office.

• The sanctions demanded in H. Con. Res. 362 go far beyond existing sanctions and previously proposed sanctions for dealing with Iran. The impact of these additional sanctions would be to undermine any chance for diplomacy to succeed in achieving a negotiated resolution to all of the outstanding issues between the U.S. and Iran.

• For example, H. Con. Res. 362 demands that the president initiate an international effort “prohibiting the international movement of all Iranian officials not involved in negotiating the suspension of Iran's nuclear program.” Implementation of such a measure would decrease chances of persuading Iran to come to the negotiating table and make impossible the kind of discreet, preparatory contacts that could help build confidence. Such a measure would also undermine efforts to resume U.S.-Iran talks in Baghdad over Iraq security.

• Furthermore, H. Con. Res. 362 contains a mixed message – on the one hand stating that it should not be construed as authorizing the use of force against Iran, and on the other demanding that the President impose harsh sanctions that would be difficult if not impossible to implement outside the context of using force. This mixed message, even if unintentional, is irresponsible; in the event that the Administration does eventually try to impose a naval or air blockade on Iran, members of Congress who support H. Con. Res. 362 risk being viewed as having approved this option in advance.

• The resolution thus risks sending a message to the Bush administration and the world that Congress supports a more belligerent policy toward, and, potentially, belligerent actions against, Iran.

• Perversely, H. Con. Res. 362 completely fails to acknowledge the November 2007 U.S. National Intelligence Estimate, which found that Iran had abandoned its covert nuclear weapons program in 2003. It also ignores the findings of International Atomic Energy Agency Director Mohammed ElBaradei, who has consistently said there is no evidence of diversion of nuclear materials for a nuclear weapons program.

• Likewise, H. Con. Res. 362 fails to reflect a key finding of the November 2007 National Intelligence Estimate on Iran, which concluded that “some combination of threats of intensified international scrutiny and pressures, along with opportunities for Iran to achieve its security, prestige, and goals for regional influence in other ways, might - if perceived by Iran’s leaders as credible - prompt Tehran to extend the current halt to its nuclear weapons program.”

• Sanctions alone are of limited use and cannot replace diplomacy as the sole means for resolving the outstanding issues between the U.S. and Iran. Before pushing for another new round of sanctions against Iran, Congress should urge the President to pursue diplomacy without preconditions, a policy that has not even been tried.

• Prominent Iranian intellectuals, academics, dissidents and human rights defenders, many of whom have suffered increasing arrests and prosecutions, have urged the U.S. to stop threatening Iran and enter into direct negotiations to resolve the crisis. Congress should listen.

• Clearly, there are serious outstanding questions and concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear program. The best way to resolve these questions would be for the U.S. to drop preconditions and enter into direct, comprehensive, bilateral talks with Iran.

New CRS Report on Iran's Nuclear Program

The Congressional Research Service has published a new report by Paul K. Kerr on the status of Iran's nuclear program. The report can be downloaded from the Federation of American Scientists' website here.