On the recordDecember 4, 2013
Last month I was joined by my colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of State Kerry to express concern about a potential interim agreement with Iran. Two weeks ago, such a deal was reached. It is a bad deal. The world rolls back sanctions without Iran fully dismantling its nuclear weapons program. Sanctions have impacted Iran's economy, leading its people to elect a less confrontational President. This recent political shift, in addition to pressure from sanctions, drove Iran to the negotiating table. Regardless, the Ayatollah, the real power in Iran, continues spewing hateful language at Israel and the West. Now is not the time to ease sanctions that have been effective for a mere promise that Iran's nuclear weapons program will be temporarily suspended. The sanctions' intent was to prevent a nuclear Iran. Anything less than the complete dismantling of its nuclear weapons program is unacceptable. ____________________





