Ileana Ros-Lehtinen: “For decades, the Iranian regime, one of the world's most dangerous political entities, has been pursuing a covert…”

“For decades, the Iranian regime, one of the world's most dangerous political entities, has been pursuing a covert nuclear program. According to multiple reports of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the IAEA, Iran has been deceiving the world for two decades about its nuclear ambitions and has breached its international obligations dealing with the most sensitive aspects of the nuclear cycle. Iran's violation of the IAEA safeguards, the safe reporting to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the denial of the agency's request for access to individuals and locations, the involvement of its military in parts of it nuclear program, as well as the Iranian regime's continued support of terrorist activities around the globe contradict any assertion of the peaceful intent of the program. It would be a critical mistake to allow a regime with a track record as bloody and as dangerous as Iran's to obtain nuclear weapons. Iran drives Hezbollah extremist ideology and provides it with weapons and funding, estimated by some at more than $80 million per year. In turn, Hezbollah has helped advance Iranian interests through continued terrorist attacks against the United States and our allies in the region. This bill before us, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6198, as amended, will help prevent Iran from acquiring the technical assistance, the financial resources, and the political legitimacy to develop nuclear weapons and to support terrorism.”