Trump and the JCPOA: It’s the End of the World As We Know It?

The Trump Administration is expected to announce plans later this month for U.S. participation in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), better known as the Iran Deal. With John Bolton directing the National Security Council, Mike Pompeo confirmed as the new Secretary of State, and Secretary James Mattis at the helm of the Defense Department, the President’s foreign policy team is in place.

But while all the President’s men have successfully established their ability to influence the administration’s policy, their recommendations for U.S. participation in the JCPOA have been contradictory to date. Secretary Mattis has signaled that he supports the U.S. remaining in the Iran Deal, while Secretary Pompeo and Bolton seem to support withdrawal.

On May 9, Hudson Institute hosted a discussion to weigh arguments for and against remaining in the JCPOA. Panelists included Michael Doran, senior fellow at Hudson Institute; Michael Pregent, senior fellow at Hudson Institute; Jonas Parello-Plesner, senior fellow at Hudson Institute; Richard Goldberg, senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies; and Behnam Ben Taleblu, research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.