Three dozen retired generals and admirals released an open letter to Congress on Tuesday, urging lawmakers to support the Iran nuclear deal.
Calling the deal “the most effective means currently available to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” the former military officials argued that such an agreement would pave the way for international support should military action ever become necessary, The Washington Post reported.
Retired generals and flag officers from every branch of service signed the letter, including four-star Marine Gens. James Cartwright, former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Joseph P. Hoar, former head of the U.S. Central Command; and Gens. Merrill McPeak and Lloyd W. Newton of the Air Force.
Retired Navy Rear Adm. Harold L. Robinson, a Jewish rabbi and former naval chaplain who currently chairs the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces, also signed.
The former military leaders argue in their letter that the nuclear deal is not based on trust in Iran, as many opponents of the deal have argued, but imposes tough standards and verification and sanctions for failure to comply.
“There is no better option to prevent an Iranian nuclear weapon,” the letter reads. “Military action would be less effective than the deal, assuming it is fully implemented. If the Iranians cheat, our advanced technology, intelligence and the inspections will reveal it, and U.S. military options remain on the table.”
The military letter follows a similar letter of encouragement sent last week to President Obama by 29 of the nation’s leading scientists, who called the Iran deal “technically sound, stringent and innovative,” and said it would “provide the necessary assurance in the coming decade and more that Iran is not developing nuclear weapons.”
Lawmakers will decide next month whether to block the deal, which most Republicans are keen to do along with a growing number of Democrats, including Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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