Ben Cardin actually said...

"The international sanctions regime has been the single most influential determinant in keeping the Iranians at the negotiating table."

"It is clear to me that our partners across the region are adopting hedging strategies toward Iran because United States commitment to the region is being actively questioned."

"Let us try to make incremental progress in getting them to weaken their capacity as a nuclear weapons state, and let us try to keep the sanctions as tight as we can during that period of time."

"Obviously, the best outcome would be for an agreement to be reached that accomplishes what the chairman spelled out--an agreement that eliminates a breakout capacity for Iran in a short period of time..."