Thomas M. Countryman: “The U.S. relationship with China is one of the most important and complex relationships we have in the world.”

I do not believe that it is in the United States' interest to pursue an autarchic policy of avoiding scientific and technical cooperation in the civilian nuclear field.

This agreement is not a commercial contract. It does not provide for the sale of nuclear equipment or technology to China.

I think our policies have not been thoughtful relative to how we deal with these nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.

We would argue that any effort to step away from JCPOA would reopen a Pandora's box in that region that we do not think we could close again.