Jimmy Carter actually said...

I would rather not give specifics, but we are prepared to take action that would be quite serious in its consequences for Iran.

I am taking this action in the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States.

This legislation does not violate the principle of letting a competitive free enterprise system in our country function on its own.

I have determined in accordance with the Export Administration Act that the absence of controls would be detrimental to those interests.