US Republicans to continue anti-JCPOA push: Analyst

Press TV has conducted an interview with Mark Weber, the director of the Institute for Historical Review from California, to get his thoughts on the US Republicans’ push against the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) measure by 42 Democratic senators.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: What does this defeat mean for the Republicans?

Weber: The Republicans are carrying out a charade really it’s playacting. They’ll be able to continue their campaign against the nuclear deal that was concluded between Iran and the [P5+1] not because they sincerely believe the claims made by Netanyahu and others that Iran is trying to make nuclear weapons. They’re carrying out this charade, this play-acting, really for two main reasons. First, they do not want to appear to be supporting any major initiative or policy of President Obama, because the majority of Republican voters despise Obama. They despise everything he represents and so they don’t want to lose that base of support. And second, these Republicans and especially those who are campaigning to be president of the United States this year or next year want to make sure that they continue to receive important financial backing from wealthy pro-Israel Jewish American millionaires even billionaires especially men like Sheldon Adelson, who have been very generously supporting pro-Israel Republican candidates in the past.

Press TV: But generally speaking, what is the main reason that the Republicans are against this deal. Do they prefer war over diplomacy?

Weber: They’re not really sincere. They know the truth and the world knows the truth. Iran is not trying to build nuclear weapons. It hasn’t been trying to build nuclear weapons. Republican politicians are trying to just hold on to their base of support and to curry favor with pro-Israel Republican financial backers. They don’t really care about the facts of the matter. Because the facts are well-known. And Netanyahu’s been making claims for more than 20 years that Iran is very close to make nuclear weapons. Even the head of US intelligence and the head of US defense intelligence acknowledge that these claims are not true. Republicans repeat them, because they’re carrying out of theatrics to ensure their own electability and political future.

Press TV: And how much has the Iran deal shattered relations between Washington and Tel Aviv?

Weber: It’s difficult to say. Netanyahu’s standing has gone down, but you have to remember even those people who are in favor of the deal, including President Obama, have stressed that whatever anybody thinks about the nuclear deal, the support for Israel will continue. And that’s across the board, because the Jewish Zionist lobby is so powerful that no politician and much of the media are going to break links and not support Israel. That is even support for the deal does not mean not supporting Israel and Israel is going to be supported. So, it’s hard to say it won’t make any major difference in US support for Israel. 

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir