US, Iran move to avert firestorm over visa waiver program changes

A potential firestorm with Iran over controversial changes to the visa waiver program by Congress on Dec. 18 appears to have been averted.

Barring nationals of Iran, Iraq, Sudan and Syria as well as travelers to these countries in the past five years from visa-free entry to the United States, the changes have been criticized by civil rights advocates, lobbying groups and the European Union. Some of the criticism focuses on Article 29 of the July 14 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which reads, "The EU and its Member States and the United States, consistent with their respective laws, will refrain from any policy specifically intended to directly and adversely affect the normalisation of trade and economic relations with Iran." Of note, changes to the visa waiver program would effectively bar European, Australian, Japanese and South Korean tourists and business travelers to Iran from visa-free entry to the United States.

Iranian officials have in recent days stepped up rhetoric against the changes to the visa waiver program, with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif calling them “absurd” in an interview with Al-Monitor Dec. 18. Separately, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran had consulted with European countries on countering the new law, as it “certainly affects economic, tourist, scientific and cultural exchanges with Iran and it contravenes the nuclear deal." Araghchi also warned that “if this law is applied, we will put forward a request to the Joint Commission, because the law goes against the nuclear accord," referring to the body overseeing implementation of the JCPOA.

However, following Zarif’s recent trip to New York for the latest session of the International Syria Support Group, a potential clash between the United States and other signatories to the JCPOA appears to have been averted.