Evan Bayh

I think there was an agreement between you and Mr. Burns. I think you both agreed that, ideally, multilateral approach would be much more efficacious...

Might this not increase the cost to get them to change that calculus a bit?

I am pleased to call to order this hearing of the Senate Banking Committee which will focus on how the United States can use sanctions and other forms of economic pressure to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability.

The hope is to move progressively, with timelines and real consequences for failing to meet them.

We cannot have a solely unilateral approach, that some of these steps might be helpful in constructing a larger strategy.

I think we would all agree that we have a strong interest in avoiding that.

the Congress can end this ambiguity by passing S. 908.

Senator Dodd has many other demands on his time, and his willingness to schedule this hearing, despite those demands, demonstrates his commitment to confronting this serious threat.

I think that the time for more aggressive action draws really, really close.

I think at the end of the day, the truth is, but a lot of people aren't willing to say it, that they are willing to accept a nuclear Iran.

I still maintain some hope that a combination of skillful diplomacy with the threat of force, with the threat of very tough sanctions, might succeed in convincing the Iranians to back down.

the purpose for this hearing and for some of our initiatives is to try and make negotiations--maximize the chances that we do not reach that point.