The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Elliott Abrams, posited that “today Tehran better positions itself to break out and produce the nuclear material those scientists would need for weapons”. He further indicated that “given Iran’s unprecedented obstruction of the IAEA, there must be consequences built-in to any deal that treats such obstruction with the seriousness it deserves. Verification of Iran’s compliance with its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and its IAEA safeguards agreements, including its Additional Protocol, is critical”. Abrams also argued that the JCPOA “will soon be irrelevant. The major nuclear restrictions under the JCPOA begin expiring in five short years, and without a new deal, Tehran will have no obstacle to acquiring capabilities that all states agree the regime must not obtain”.