On the recordSeptember 16, 2015
I come before the Senate to discuss the agreement that is being proposed between the United States, the other members of the P5+1 nations, and Iran with regard to Iran's capacity to build a nuclear weapon. I strongly oppose this agreement for a number of different reasons. Before I get into the specifics of those reasons, I need to back up a little bit. About 2 years ago, I served on the banking committee. I don't think most people in America realize that the banking committee has jurisdiction over the sanctions legislation which deals with Iran and other sanctions legislation throughout the world. Over the years, we have developed a very powerful and effective sanctions regime with regard to Iran. This regime involved not only the United States but the participation and agreement of nations around the globe, including sanctions that were followed by us through the United Nations. Those sanctions--after having had four or five different versions of them, increasingly tightening them down--had worked very effectively to cause Iran to need to come to the negotiating table. I think most Americans realize that the reason Iran came to the negotiating table was the fact that our sanctions were working.…





