Obama quietly made several notable changes to the language on ballistic missiles in the Iran Nuclear Deal that allowed Iran to continue ballistic missile development.
The JCPOA’s Key Requirements stated that for eight years ballistic missile restrictions would remain in place. This assertion was repeatedly put forth by the Obama Administration.
But buried deep within the JCPOA, on page 99 (of 104 total) in Annex B (3) resides the actual language: "Iran is called upon not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology, until the date eight years after the JCPOA Adoption Day or until the date on which the IAEA submits a report confirming the Broader Conclusion, whichever is earlier."
Called upon. Designed to be capable. Crucial differences versus the original language contained within the earlier UN Resolution 1929: "Iran shall not undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using ballistic missile technology, and that States shall take all necessary measures to prevent the transfer of technology or technical assistance to Iran related to such activities."
Those changes were not made by accident - and the slight variances would prove crucial. After the JCPOA went into effect, Iran worked diligently to bolster its ballistic missile capabilities and began building missile complexes in Syria and Lebanon.
Additionally, because of the Sunset Clauses inserted by Obama, the international arms embargo imposed on Iran expired on October 18, 2020.
This meant that the supply, sale, or transfer of “any battle tanks, armored combat vehicles, large caliber artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles, or missile systems to Iran would no longer require U.N. Security Council approval.”
U.N. member-states would also no longer be obligated to prevent the supply, sale, or transfer of arms or related material from Iran.
As predicted in a 2019 report, “the expiration of this arms embargo would have immediate destabilizing consequences for Yemen, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Israel. Terror organizations like the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, Hezbollah, and Hamas would become the likely beneficiaries of this sunset provision.”
We now know with certainty that this prediction was entirely valid.
Side note: Every link I had for the JCPOA - links that were active and functional in late 2023 - now show as "forbidden" when I try to access them.