DNC draft platform: ‘JCPOA remains the best means’ to keep Iran from nukes

Democrats seek to call off administration’s ‘race to war,’ will prioritize diplomacy

WASHINGTON – The Democratic Party has released a draft of its platform ahead of a final vote that is expected this week, with the foreign policy chapter calling to return to “mutual compliance” with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, and oppose regime change within the Islamic Republic.

“Democrats will call off the Trump administration’s race to war with Iran and prioritize nuclear diplomacy, de-escalation, and regional dialogue,” the draft reads. “Democrats believe the United States should not impose regime change on other countries and reject that as the goal of US policy toward Iran.”

The draft also mentions that the party believes the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) remains the best means to veritably cut off all of Iran’s pathways to a nuclear bomb.

“The Trump administration’s unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA isolated us from our allies and opened the door for Iran to resume its march toward a nuclear weapons capacity that the JCPOA had stopped,” the document reads.

According to the document, “The nuclear deal was always meant to be the beginning, not the end, of our diplomacy with Iran. Democrats support a comprehensive diplomatic effort to extend constraints on Iran’s nuclear program and address Iran’s other threatening activities – including its regional aggression, ballistic missile program, and domestic repression.”

Last week, it was reported that the draft reiterates the US commitment to Israel maintaining a “qualitative military edge” as a part of the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Additionally, it supports a negotiated twostate solution “that ensures Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state with recognized borders and upholds the right of Palestinians to live in freedom and security in a viable state of their own.”

The document also notes the party’s opposition to “any unilateral steps by either side – including annexation – that undermine prospects for two states.

“We believe that while Jerusalem is a matter for final status negotiations, it should remain the capital of Israel, an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths,” it reads. “Democrats will restore US-Palestinian diplomatic ties and critical assistance to the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza, consistent with US law.”

Additionally, it states that the party opposes any effort “to unfairly single out and delegitimize Israel, including at the United Nations or through the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement [BDS], while protecting the Constitutional right of our citizens to free speech.”