Iran deal will make world a safer place

To the editor:

The Iran deal reached in Vienna is a historic diplomatic achievement, blocking every pathway Iran has to the bomb, and keeping the United States and the world from another devastating war in the Middle East. Recently, Congress held hearings to discuss the Iran deal. Watching the hearings on live stream, I heard members of Congress bring up Iran's past and express the punishing desire to prevent any forward movement based upon it. It's true, our history with Iran has been tumultuous and tangled. Still, to sacrifice this chance to know what Iran is up to in their nuclear program - in a verifiable and internationally supported way - is beyond foolish.

Jeffrey Lewis, director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, gives this deal an A and cautions against rejection at this critical moment: 'Every six months, the deal we could have gotten six months before looks better. Every time we tried to hold out for a better deal, and every time we got in the position of a worse deal.”

In September, Congress is expected to vote on whether or not this agreement goes forward. I hope Iowa U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst and U.S. Rep. Rod Blum will use this extraordinary juncture to vote and speak out in favor of this accord that will make our world a safer place.

Trish Bruxvoort Colligan

Strawberry Point