Gerald Molen, the Oscar-winning producer of Schindler's List, has responded to 98 prominent Jews in Hollywood, including producers Norman Lear and Mike Medavoy, who published an open letter in support of President Barack Obama's proposed nuclear deal with Iran.

"Can we trust Iran? Do they not deny the Holocaust? Do they not invest in terror organizations?" Molen asks in an email sent to LAJewishLeadersForIranDeal@gmail.com, an email account set up by the 98 Hollywood Jews who support Obama's plan.

In Molen's email, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, he alleges that the deal proposed will allow Iran to arm its military in five years, purchase ballistic missiles in eight years and restart its nuclear program in 15 years.

"This will more than likely push the inevitable nuclear crises out of many of the signers' lifetimes and onto the backs of their grandchildren or great grandchildren," Molen writes.

Since the deal involves the removal of economic sanctions, Iran will conceivably have far more wealth at its disposal, which Molen asserts will lead to catastrophe even if Iran never realizes its nuclear ambitions.



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"How much of their new-found largesse will be used to kill innocents?" Molen asks. "How much of it will be spent on child-size, bomb-laden vests for the indoctrinated young to climb on a bus, enter a marketplace or a theater and go boom? Israel must be very wary and each of the signers must surely know that. Shouldn't they?"

The proposed deal is still in flux, as Republicans have introduced a resolution of disapproval, though Obama would surely veto it should it pass, as is likely.

The authors of the open letter in support of the deal published it Thursday as a full-page ad in L.A.'s edition of The Jewish Journal.

"For far too long, Iran was actively developing and expanding its nuclear infrastructure, closing the gap to a nuclear weapon," reads the open letter. "This agreement, negotiated by the United States, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, and Russia, halts and rolls back this dangerous march through verifiable and measured steps."

Molen doesn't buy it, and notes in his email that the Mullahs in Iran continue to chant, "Death to America."

"Again, ideology seems to be what is leading the administration's thinking. That is truly sad ... and a bit disingenuous."

Despite Molen's bona fides as one of the industry's more successful producers — Rain Man, Twister and Jurassic Park are also on his résumé — he is oftentimes out of step politically with famously liberal Hollywood. In fact, he executive produced 2016: Obama's America, the very successful documentary that was critical of the Democratic president, supported financially and otherwise, by much of Hollywood.

Molen ends his email to the 98 supporters with: "It is our president who defies the reality of Islamic terrorists and their ongoing promise to destroy Israel. While the letter-signers stand with him, I will stand for liberty and freedom and Israel."

Email: Paul.Bond@THR.com