In Case You Missed It: UANI CEO Mark Wallace Interviewed in Asharq Al-Awsat

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 24, 2015 Phone: (212) 922-0063 press@uani.com In Case You Missed It: UANI CEO Mark Wallace Interviewed in Asharq Al-Awsat United Against Nuclear Iran: We believe that a veto override is possible. Wallace for Asharq Al-Awsat: The deal will increase tensions in the region. UANI CEO Mark Wallace Interview Asharq Al-Awsat August 21, 2015 Mark Wallace, Washington's former ambassador to the United Nations, and the leader of the United Against Nuclear Iran organization, stressed that the "nuclear deal will increase tensions in the region". He told Asharq Al-Awsat in an interview that "the deal will have a negative impact on the peace and the security of the region". Regarding the multi-million dollar national education campaign United Against Nuclear Iran launched, its goals, and the confrontation between the proponents and the opponents of the deal, Wallace said, "The Congress will very likely pass a resolution of disapproval, which President Obama will then veto. We believe that a veto override is possible, however it will be difficult given that it requires two-thirds of the members of the House and the Senate to vote that way." Wallace called on the parties of the Vienna agreement to go back to negotiating table and get a better deal that will prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons for good. Wallace is the founder of United Against Nuclear Iran, along with the late Richard Holbrooke, Washington's special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, Jim Woolsey, former CIA director, and Ambassador Dennis Ross, the expert on Middle East affairs. Here is the complete interview: Javad Zarif, the Iranian Foreign Minister, named them the biggest active lobby against his country. And for years United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), a non-partisan, non-profit advocacy organization has tirelessly campaigned to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and proved to be very effective. Led by Mark Wallace, Washington's former ambassador to the UN, and an ex-advisor of Bush and McCain's presidential campaigns, UANI has forced international companies such as GE, Caterpillar, and many others to cease doing business with Iran. UANI launched its Maritime Intelligence Network and Rogue Vessel Analysis (MINERVA) system to track Iranian vessels and identify and expose the Iranian regime's efforts to smuggle oil and cargo in circumvention of international sanctions. The organization also stands behind The Accountability for Business Choices in Iran Act which would preclude companies that conduct business in Iran from receiving U.S. government contracts. In the wake of the nuclear deal signed by the P5+1 and Iran, and the lifting of the sanctions, the battle of UANI was altered dramatically: From advocating against doing business with Iran, to educating the public about the flaws of the deal, considered by its leadership as a threat to the national security interest of the U.S. Its multi-million dollar national education campaign is aimed at educating the American people on the Iran nuclear agreement's key deficiencies and weaknesses. This position has put UANI at odds with the White House, which has accused those who do not support the agreement as being "warmongers". UANI saw just last week its chairman Gary Samore, a former nuclear advisor to President Obama, resign over his support of the agreement and replaced by senator Joe Lieberman who told the Washington Post that "the best chance for a better deal, in other words, is overwhelming bipartisan pressure from Capitol Hill about the need for one, rather than acquiescing to the Obama administration's claim that this is the best agreement possible because Iran will go no further." Mark Wallace explains in an exclusive interview to Asharq Al-Awsat the goals of the campaign and what it aims to achieve.  What is the goal of the campaign? The vote on the Iran nuclear deal is Congress's most consequential national security decision since the end of the Cold War. Every American should know what's in this agreement, and how it will affect them, so they can draw their own, informed decisions. Why does UANI stand against the nuclear deal? We believe the agreement falls short in a number of ways: The deficiency of an inspections regime that allows Iran to delay inspections of suspected nuclear facilities for up to 24 days; the release of up to $150 billion to the leading state sponsor of terrorism; no release of the four American hostages who remain inhumanely and unjustly imprisoned in Iran; and the inadequacy of any mechanism to reinstitute sanctions if Iran is found to be cheating.   Now that the deal has been signed by the P5+1, and unanimously approved by the UN, now that commercial delegations from all over the world are looking to enter Tehran's promising market, what can the multi-million dollar campaign launched by UANI hope to achieve? Should the U.S. Congress vote down the agreement, which we hope will take place, it will send a powerful message that the American people disapprove of the deal and that they want the two sides to go back to the negotiating table to get a better deal that permanently and effectively prevents a nuclear Iran and safeguards America's national security interests.   You are at odds with great powers, mainly the UN, the EU countries, Russia, Iran, and the White House. Who are your allies? There are many countries in the Middle East and around the world that believe as we do that this agreement falls far short of its stated goal -- preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. There are many leaders and organizations here in the United States and in other parts of the world, even in the countries you mention, who are in solidarity with our position and believe a much stronger deal is possible. The vote in the U.S. Congress is crucial and that is why we are concentrating on key members of Congress between now and the vote in September.   How do you think this deal will affect the region? We believe this deal will have a very negative impact on peace and security in the region. Already, since the announcement of the deal by President Obama, there has been a buildup in conventional arms among the other Gulf nations, as they fear the impact of an emboldened Iran, which today has an extensive presence in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. If this deal is approved and goes into effect, I believe we will regrettably see Iran's neighbors seek to achieve a nuclear weapons capability, if only for its deterrent value.   You say the deal is a risk to the U.S. national security interest. How? This deal guarantees that Iran will be nuclear threshold state very soon, even if it abides by the terms of the agreement. Iran's past actions in hiding its nuclear ambitions calls even that into question. Iran has claimed to only seek nuclear power for civilian purposes. Its actions tell a much different story. Iran's neighbors cannot afford to stake the future of their people on what Iran says, only what it does. If sanctions are lifted and Iran also has access to conventional and ballistic missile technology, its ability to project power will be vastly expanded. That is something countries far from the Middle East should be concerned about.   Don't you think the deal can help achieve stability in the Middle East region?  This deal will guarantee just the opposite, much less stability, more tension and a greater chance for conflict in a region that unfortunately has seen more than its fair share of conflict and tragedy lately.   Do you think the campaign succeeded in convincing the American people and their representatives of the danger of the deal? Opinion polls have consistently shown that the more they learn about the details of this agreement, the more unpopular it becomes with American voters. What we are trying to do is reach out to as many people as possible between now and when Congress votes so that there is a full and fair debate and that members of Congress have an opportunity to hear from those they represent.   Do you believe that the deal can be undone? I believe the deal can and should be improved, and will be improved if Congress votes it down. There have been many instances in the past when Congress rejected agreements and treaties negotiated by the President. Those actions did not result in catastrophe, they resulted in the agreements being strengthened and eventually passed. Congress has also in the past mandated changes and improvements as a condition of passage.   Do you think it is feasible to overcome the veto of the president of the United States of America?  This is a weak agreement and polling reveals that a majority of Americans are opposed to it. The Congress will very likely pass a resolution of disapproval, which President Obama will then veto. We believe that a veto override is possible, however it will be difficult given that it requires two-thirds of the members of the House and the Senate to vote that way.   Now that the sanctions are lifted on Iran, what is future for UANI? We are totally focused on helping the American people understand the nature of this critical agreement and how it will affect them and their children, leading up to the vote by Congress. ###  United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is a program of the American Coalition Against Nuclear Iran, Inc., a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

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