FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 10, 2015

Phone: (212) 922-0063



Senator Joseph I. Lieberman to Lead United Against Nuclear Iran as Chairman



New York, NY - Today, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace announced that former U.S. Senator Joseph I. Lieberman will lead UANI as Chairman. Senator Lieberman will play a key leadership role throughout UANI's efforts to educate and inform the American public regarding the serious shortcomings of the Iran nuclear deal.



"UANI is honored to have Senator Lieberman, a longtime UANI Advisory Board member and close friend, assume a leadership role at this critical time," said Ambassador Wallace. "Senator Lieberman's foreign policy and national security expertise is highly respected and renowned around the world. We could have no better leader as the American people consider this flawed Iran agreement."



Senator Lieberman served in the U.S. Senate from Connecticut for 24 years. In 2000, he was the Democratic candidate for Vice President of the United States. During his time in office, Senator Lieberman worked across party lines in order to protect the security of the American people and promote American leadership in the world.



Senator Lieberman stated: "UANI has led the effort to economically isolate the Iranian regime, and its bipartisan and international expertise makes it a highly respected voice on the merits of the Iran agreement. I am honored to assume this new leadership role at this important time."



Ambassador Wallace also announced other leadership changes at UANI. UANI's current Executive Director, David Ibsen, will assume the role of UANI President, and Matan Shamir, currently Director of Research, will assume the role of Executive Director.



"For years David has been UANI's heart and soul as Executive Director and Matan has done incredible work leading our research team," Wallace said. "They are true experts and are committed to professional and thoughtful work. UANI is fortunate that they have agreed to assume the larger roles of President and Executive Director, respectively."



Ibsen will replace current UANI President, Dr. Gary Samore, who has served in that role since September 2013. Dr. Samore will remain on UANI's Advisory Board.



"We thank Gary for his commitment, service, and leadership, both during his tenure at UANI and as President Obama's Coordinator for Arms Control and Weapons of Mass Destruction," Wallace said. "Gary has been one of the premier experts skeptical of Iran's willingness to forgo a nuclear weapons capability, and his analysis has advanced the discourse on the challenge of preventing a nuclear-armed Iran. While concerned with many provisions of the Iran deal, Gary ultimately supports the agreement and is stepping down to avoid any conflict with UANI's work in opposition to the agreement. We are fortunate that he remains our close friend and Advisory Board member.



Dr. Samore said the following: "I am proud to have been a part of UANI from its inception and the essential work UANI has done on the Iran nuclear issue, particularly in the area of sanctions and economic pressure. In these partisan times, UANI has been a bipartisan and thoughtful voice on these issues. If the nuclear agreement goes forward--as I believe it should--UANI will continue to play a critical role monitoring implementation and helping to maintain non-nuclear sanctions until Iran changes its behavior in these other areas."



Dr. Samore is the lead author and editor of The Iran Nuclear Deal: A Definitive Guide, published this month by the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.





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UANI is a non-profit, non-partisan education and advocacy group aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. An outspoken and tireless advocate for implementation of a robust sanctions regime against Iran, UANI has been at the vanguard of efforts to ensure that any U.S. agreement with Iran is solidly in the national security interests of the United States and precludes Tehran's efforts to develop nuclear weapons.



Click here for more information about UANI's Leadership and Advisory Board.

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