Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley’s Majority Staff Report (released March 4, 2025) is a startling behind-the-scenes account of how the State Department – under then-Secretary of State John Kerry – allegedly obstructed law enforcement efforts against Iran’s illicit weapons programs during the Obama-Biden administration.
The report, titled State Department Obstruction of Law Enforcement Action Against Iran’s Weapons of Mass Destruction and Ballistic Missile Programs, is built on legally protected whistleblower disclosures and unclassified FBI/DOJ records.
Senator Grassley’s report illustrates how, even as the administration publicly vowed to constrain Iran’s nuclear and missile ambitions, internal actions told a very different story.
Grassley’s investigation details critical facts: arrests that were halted, indictments that were stymied, and a de facto “shadow amnesty” for Iranian sanction violators – all to avoid upsetting the Iran nuclear deal (the JCPOA).
Background: Sanctions, the Iran Deal, and Public Assurances
For decades, both Republican and Democratic administrations relied on sanctions to deter and punish Iran for terrorism, missile development, nuclear proliferation, and human rights abuses.
In the early 2010s, as negotiations for a nuclear deal ramped up, President Obama and his team repeatedly promised to enforce non-nuclear sanctions even if a nuclear agreement was reached.
Likewise, after the Iran nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA) was finalized on July 14, 2015, Obama emphasized that sanctions would remain in place for Iran’s missile program. Then-Secretary of State John Kerry echoed this stance in congressional testimony.
In a July 2015 Senate hearing, Kerry assured lawmakers the deal would not hinder U.S. sanctions or export controls unrelated to Iran’s nuclear program as recorded by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
However, Grassley’s report reveals a sharp contrast between public assurances and private actions.
Even as Kerry was testifying that the deal “does not provide Iran any relief from U.S. sanctions for any non-nuclear reason,” his State Department was allegedly moving to soften enforcement behind the scenes.
Undermining Enforcement: How the State Department Obstructed Investigations
Whistleblower disclosures and unclassified emails uncovered by Grassley’s team detail an “unprecedented campaign” within the Obama-Biden State Department to thwart U.S. law enforcement operations targeting Iran’s weapons procurement.
This obstruction began during the JCPOA negotiation period (2013–2015) and continued even after the deal’s implementation in 2016.
Key findings include:
- Blocking Arrests of Sanctions Violators: According to FBI emails, State Department officials repeatedly prevented the FBI from arresting individuals – already indicted for sanctions and export-control violations – who were helping Iran’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs as detailed by Politico.
- Kerry’s Direct Involvement: Perhaps most striking, the report provides evidence that Secretary Kerry himself directly intervened to halt law enforcement actions. In one unclassified July 2015 email, a DOJ attorney informed agents that any Iran-related arrest had to be cleared not just by Justice Department leadership but concurrently by the State Department according to Politico. This unusual procedure left FBI agents perplexed.
- Internal Fury and “Layup” Arrests Thwarted: Internal emails captured agents’ exasperation at being told to “stand down on a layup arrest” – an easy, near-certain catch – because they had to wait until the U.S. and Iran negotiations were resolved. The report notes that by late 2015, morale in counterproliferation offices plummeted as agents watched suspects they could easily arrest remain free.
- DOJ Concern and Failed Pushback: As “Implementation Day” of the Iran deal neared, FBI and Justice officials grew concerned about the lack of coordination with State on enforcing sanctions related to Iran’s WMD program. In December 2015, FBI and DOJ’s National Security Division (NSD) sought a meeting with Thomas Countryman (State’s Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation) to ensure continued enforcement, but were rebuffed when State instructed Countryman not to meet with the FBI.
- Obstruction Classified as Unlawful (But Hushed): Whistleblowers alleged that FBI attorneys internally agreed the State Department’s interference was unlawful, but personnel were “prohibited from putting it in writing” as reported by Iran International.
The 2016 Prisoner Swap and the 14 Fugitives: “Tip of the Iceberg”
A flashpoint in the report is the January 16, 2016 prisoner swap between the U.S. and Iran – the same day the JCPOA was implemented.
The Obama administration publicly announced the exchange of five American hostages for seven Iranians held in the U.S.
What wasn’t immediately advertised, however, was that the U.S. also dropped charges and INTERPOL warrants against 14 other Iranian fugitives involved in illicit procurement for Iran’s WMD and missile programs.
$1.7 Billion and Dropped Charges: Alongside the prisoner release, the U.S. delivered a controversial $1.7 billion in cash to Iran. Soon after, unpublicized court filings revealed that the Justice Department dropped charges and international arrest warrants against 14 fugitives supporting Iran’s weapons programs.
Keeping Americans in the Dark: The report notes that the administration attempted to hide the full scope of this amnesty. Americans only learned of it when Iran’s state-controlled media (FARS) revealed the names and details of those 14 individuals.
National Security Impacts: “Guaranteed Iran’s Illegal Activities Would Continue”
The Grassley report makes clear that these actions had serious repercussions for U.S. national security. Several impacts emerge from the findings:
- Advancing Iran’s WMD and Missile Programs: The most direct impact is that Iran had a freer hand to acquire U.S. technology for its weapons programs, since enforcement was deliberately weakened according to Iran International. Each time an agent was told to stand down, Iranian procurement networks continued unabated.
- Missed Intelligence Opportunities: By not arresting key Iranian agents, the U.S. missed the opportunity to obtain valuable intelligence that could have better informed the ongoing JCPOA negotiations. Each potential arrest could have led to seized documents and insights into Iran’s networks.
- Contradicting U.S. Policy and Losing Credibility: Publicly, the U.S. promised to hold Iran accountable by enforcing sanctions vigorously. However, behind closed doors, the State Department actively undermined those commitments. The Trump administration later reversed course immediately, returning to strict enforcement. This inconsistency likely eroded trust among allies and emboldened Iran to continue its illicit activities.
Calls for Accountability and Conclusion
The report not only lays out the facts but also implicitly calls for accountability for the officials and decisions that led to this situation.
It strongly suggests that then-Secretary Kerry’s actions violated U.S. law – specifically, the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act – by obstructing enforcement even as he testified otherwise before Congress.
Whistleblowers who attempted to expose these issues were silenced.
High-ranking FBI and DOJ officials dismissed formal complaints, and the obstruction had a chilling effect on investigations.
- Violations of Law and False Testimony: The report strongly suggests that then-Secretary Kerry’s actions violated U.S. law – specifically, the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act – by obstructing enforcement even as he testified otherwise before Congress.
- Whistleblower Protections and Institutional Integrity: The report shows that whistleblowers who attempted to expose these issues were silenced.
High-ranking FBI and DOJ officials dismissed formal complaints, and the obstruction had a chilling effect on investigations. - Reforms to Prevent Recurrence: Given that these actions allowed dangerous individuals to continue operating and may have emboldened Iran, there is a pressing need for legislative and administrative reforms. Congress might consider measures ensuring that law enforcement decisions cannot be unilaterally blocked for political reasons.
- Ongoing Oversight: Grassley’s efforts to obtain records from the State Department, DOJ, and FBI – and the lack of response so far – signal that further investigation may be necessary.
The report sets the stage for potential congressional hearings and accountability measures against those who obstructed justice.
By placing political considerations above law enforcement, officials not only undermined the credibility of U.S. policy but also left Iran better equipped to pursue its aggressive programs.
The report’s final assessment is stark: “Tragically, the constant unlawful interference hindered and obstructed hundreds of investigations… guaranteeing that Iran’s illegal activities would continue.”
This is a damning indictment and a call to restore the principle that national security and the rule of law must always come before political expediency.