Robert Satloff at the Washington Institute explains the best-case scenario. “With adroit diplomacy — a big if — decertification could be the path to reaching agreement with the Europeans that improves or repairs critical aspects of the deal and related Iran-policy issues. It is precisely because the Europeans are so intent on maintaining the deal that they may be willing to do things that so far they have been reluctant to do — on inspections, ballistic missiles, sanctions for Iran’s objectionable behavior elsewhere, etc. — as a way to keep Trump in the deal.” However, he cautions that while improvements in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) are possible, “achieving a good outcome here requires adroit diplomacy, perhaps including the effective input of the president, which has not always been in abundant supply.”

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What’s readily apparent is that the administration lacks diplomatic competence and has done nothing to bring its allies on board and develop a mutually satisfactory approach. The Post reports:

None of the three — Britain, France and Germany — believes Iran is in violation, and each has said publicly it will not renegotiate the nuclear agreement. U.S. imposition of sanctions affecting banks that even indirectly do business in Iran would doubtless influence those countries’ companies, they say, and would be considered an unfriendly act. “We will not follow the United States in reneging on our international obligations with this deal,” said a second official. “Not the E-3, nor the rest of the 28” members of the European Union.

That lack of basic preparation, plus the gobsmacking feud between President Trump and his secretary of state (who can’t diplomatically deny calling his boss a “moron”), should prompt serious rethinking about a decertification strategy. More bluntly, few people think this president and this secretary of state can carry out what is essentially a bluff. They would have to convince Iran and our allies that we really would leave the deal (or take military action) as a gambit for obtaining leverage to seek a better deal. Decertification would be a fateful step, not because it puts the JCPOA at risk but because it would put our credibility and relationship at risk when Iran does exactly what you’d expect (i.e. refuse to negotiate).

It is incumbent on those pushing this scenario to ask and answer a series of questions:

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What if Iran flatly refuses to negotiate?

What if our allies say they won’t agree to new sanctions so long as Iran is in compliance?

What if Russia and China say they will consider our leaving to be a breach of the agreement and threaten to bring the matter to the United Nations Security Council?

What if, due to the hubbub created by decertification, our allies get nervous about moving on other fronts that we could otherwise have pursued (e.g. human rights, missile testing)?

What if a bipartisan group of senators rules out voting for sanctions that would put the deal at risk?