On the recordMay 22, 2013
Mr. President, I rise in strong support of this resolution because Iran represents the single largest threat to freedom and peace in the Middle East. Our State Department classifies Iran as the most active state sponsor of terrorism, period. A troubling news account from Reuters released just yesterday reveals a United Nations nuclear agency report due this week is ``expected to show Iran further increasing its capacity to produce material that . . . could eventually be put to developing atomic bombs.'' The clock is ticking. This is a moment to be resolute. The forceful words we just heard from the distinguished chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and previously from the distinguished senior Senator from Arizona, demonstrate our firm bipartisan position on this matter. The world can ill afford the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran. That is why it is incumbent on the Congress and the President to take every action necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a weapon of mass destruction. All options must be on the table, as the resolution indicates, to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. Israel is a nation under siege by terrorist organizations, many of which are being directly funded by the Iranian regime. The United States must not waiver in its support and obligation to our friends in Israel. I am pleased this resolution reaffirms our commitment to Israel, particularly in the event Israel is forced to exercise its sovereign right to defend itself.…





