Ben Cardin

It is clear to me that we need to work together in regard to making sure Iran fully complies with the JCPOA.

I think the repeated ballistic missile launches and desire to purchase all types of weapons from Russia proves that an increased push back is necessary.

I would like to see us have more of a sort of regional security forum.

Let us make sure that all works together.

I think that is a real opportunity for the United States because we can help with some of these problems that they face.

Certainly all the signals that we are getting recently is that is being done, that there is much better direct conversations particularly among the sharing of intelligence information and strategies as it relates to common concerns in the…

I think we also need to take steps to more explicitly counter Iran's anti-access/area denial, A2AD, strategy in the Gulf.

We need to focus on not just preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon--I think that remains our top priority with respect to Iran--but also countering the Iranian threat to regional stability.

We all share the same common objective, and that is to prevent Iran from being a nuclear weapons state.

Well, Mr. Chairman, first let me thank you for today's hearing. I think it is extremely important.

The United Nations has no ability right now in my view except to talk because of the vetoes that are part of that Security Council situation.

Not just this administration, other administrations, this country, we do not have a great record dealing with rogue nations.

We never got a vote on it. We could not even get it to the Floor of the Senate to have a vote on it.

This committee is more nonpartisan, not bipartisan, nonpartisan. This is about national security. It is about global security.

We are not there yet. We are working very closely with the IAEA to make sure that they have full insight.

I do not mean to interrupt but I want to focus on this.

We will be watching their actions to the U.N. resolution violation because to me it is telling whether we will have zero tolerance for compliance with the Iran agreement.

Yes, we want to get international support to respond to Iran, but it is important that we have the numbers that will be important in enforcing the Iranian agreement.

A lot of the activities in Iran are not new, and we should not expect that it will change.

We should have had an opportunity to debate this issue and look at the consequences far beyond just the immediate impact on individuals who wish to come to the United States.

I think there is unanimous support in the United States Senate for zero tolerance for violations by Iran.

But we also know about U.S. leadership and what the United States must do for zero tolerance of violations.

We need to make sure we do not lose sight of that gross violation of that individual's rights.

Together we want to work to make sure that Iran does not attain a nuclear weapon capacity.

I think this committee had to set an all-time record on the number of hearings and briefings, which I think was because of the issues.