Fox & Friends hosts Brian Kilmeade and Steve Doocy admitted that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, has been effective in curbing Iran’s nuclear weapons program. For years, Fox & Friends has railed against the nuclear deal, provided a platform for hardliners to attack the accord, and misinformed viewers about the deal’s terms.

But, in the lead up to President Trump’s possible withdrawal from the deal, Doocy, co-host of the president’s favorite television program Fox & Friends, said, “If the deal went away, not only would the United States have to worry about the aggression from Iran in the region over there, but then they’d have to worry about the nuke problem as well.” And Kilmeade noted that “at least they’re not spinning centrifuges. There is no proof that they’re building up a nuclear arsenal.” The admissions effectively acknowledge that the inspections regime that is a core part of the deal is in fact working, a position that has been held by proponents of the deal since its inception.

From the May 8 edition of Fox News’ Fox & Friends:

BRIAN KILMEADE (CO-HOST): You have the European allies saying just exactly what Mollie Hemingway is saying, we don’t love the deal either, but my goodness, at least they’re not spinning centrifuges. There is no proof that they’re building up a nuclear arsenal. You want to leave it and try to make it better.

There is another way forward, and I don't think that it would really anger any of the president's base, and that is, look, the European allies came here, the president wants to show he’s listening. “You guys want 60 days. You know my problems with it, I made it clear to you, go improve this deal in 60 days. If it's not done, if you can't get the Iranians to buy, then, in turn” -- by the way the Iranian's complaint about us is we have not opened up our markets and pushed our banks to invest there and we have also told others not to do that, fine. So, let's say we pull back and allow the investment if, of course, they get rid of the ballistic missiles and they do some type of reduction in terror activities. Give them 60 days. Let’s call their bluff.

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STEVE DOOCY (CO-HOST): If the deal went away, not only would the United States have to worry about the aggression from Iran in the region over there, but then they’d have to worry about the nuke problem as well. Don't be surprised if the president pulls out at two o’clock this afternoon. But, then again, don't be surprised if he does exactly what he did with DACA.

[...]

KILMEADE: So you like that idea? Give them 60 days?

DOOCY: Listen, I think that Donald Trump doesn't want to appear as just a guy who goes out and blows things up.

KILMEADE: Like the Paris deal.

DOOCY: He wants to go ahead and he wants to appear to be a negotiator. He will negotiate with Europe. He will negotiate with our Congress, and then he says, “look, I gave them six months, three months, whatever. They didn't do it. We're gone.” That way he could still appeal to his base. I tried to fix it, I gave them a chance. It didn't work out.