THREAD:

The last 17 days of the #Trump admin are an extremely dangerous time, with escalating US-Iran tensions & risk of all-out war. After years of a failed maximum pressure campaign, #Iran has announced it will begin enriching uranium past 20%. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/iran-resumes-20-percent-uranium-enrichment-nuclear-facility-state-news-n1252708

The #US has responded to recent tensions by dispatching #B52 bombers and repositioned a nuclear-powered sub in a show of force in the #Gulf. They have also kept the USS Nimitz Aircraft Carrier strategically positioned in range to conduct strikes on Iran. #NoWarOnIran

@realDonaldTrump's maximum pressure campaign against #Iran included withdrawing from the #JCPOA, imposing crippling economic sanctions on the Iranian people during a global pandemic, & assassinating Commander Qassim #Soleimani and Iran’s top nuclear scientist Mohsen #Fakhrizadeh.

If the #Trump administration had never pulled out of the #IranDeal, there would be no reason for #Iran to be enriching uranium past the 20% mark and Iran’s nuclear breakout time would be much further out. The admin's Iran policy has been a maximum failure on all accounts.

While the announcement by Iran that it plans to enrich uranium past 20% could make @JoeBiden’s work to return to diplomacy and restore the #JCPOA more politically and technically difficult, this is not a deal-breaker and can be reversed.

There is still momentum for peace. In December, over 150 members of #Congress sent a letter to @JoeBiden, expressing support for a return to the #IranNuclearDeal. This is a good sign that the #Democratic party is unified in supporting diplomacy with #Iran. Let's build on that!

Last year, a bipartisan majority in #Congress passed an Iran War Powers Resolution to prohibit strikes on Iran without Congressional authorization. Any attack on #Iran requires #authorization from Congress and the military must resist any illegal orders from #Trump. #NoWaronIran

Even if the #US or #Israel conducted airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, it wouldn't permanently set back Iran’s #nuclear capacity. It does however have the potential to spark a wider war in the #MiddleEast, risking the lives of US troops and millions of #innocent people.

It is in the national security interest of the #UnitedStates to restore the #JCPOA and ensure all parties return to compliance. There's a myriad of challenges with regards to Iran, but the most urgent threat emanating from Iran is its proliferation of nuclear material. #NoNukes

Restoring the JCPOA provides a sound platform for further diplomacy to address the full range of areas of disagreement between the US and Iran. The longer the period of noncompliance with JCPOA continues the harder it will be to impose meaningful limits on Iran’s nuclear program.

While these next 17 days are extremely dangerous, and there are bound to be setbacks, now is not the time to give up on peace with Iran. Now is a time to double down on our collective calls for a "compliance for compliance" return to the #JCPOA. #NoWarWithIran