A senior State Department official maintained in a tense exchange before Congress this week that Iran is not violating the landmark nuclear deal, despite evidence the Islamic Republic continues weapons and enrichment activities that go against the intention of the agreement.
State Department official David Satterfield, an acting assistant secretary in the bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, told lawmakers on Wednesday that Iran continues to abide by the deal.
Under tense questioning by Rep. Lee Zeldin (R., N.Y.), Satterfield repeated a line of talking points rejected by many Republicans in Congress.
"Has Iran violated the letter of the JCPOA?" Zeldin asked, using the official acronym for the deal.
"The IAEA has not found significant violations," Satterfield responded.
"I'm not asking the IAEA, I'm asking you," Zeldin said.
"That it what we rely upon," Satterfield responded.
"Is it the State Department's position that Iran has not violated the letter of the JCPOA?" Zeldin asked again.
"That is the judgment of the IAEA," Satterfield responded.
Under further questioning, Satterfield was unable to provide answers about possible technical violations of the deal Iran may have made.