Political Quotes

“I rise as an opponent of the Iran nuclear agreement, and I have set forth at length--both on the Senate floor and in a speech at Seton Hall University School of Diplomacy and International Relations--my reasons why, but I am also an opponent to the McConnell amendment that would support the deal if Iran recognizes Israel and releases American hostages. I have said on this floor--and will say again--that I have a problem with the underlying nuclear agreement. As much as I wish to see the hostages released--and have voted in a resolution that the Senate passed calling for Iran to do so--and have them come home to their families, and as much as I would like Israel to be recognized by Iran as a sovereign, independent nation, I am not certain I would want to give my imprimatur to the agreement even under those conditions, which this amendment would do. This, in essence, makes--if adopted--a conditional agreement. We in the Senate would be voting to say the agreement can move forward if the hostages are released and if Iran recognizes the State of Israel as a sovereign and independent state. I must say I want the hostages back, as does everyone in this Chamber. I want Israel to be recognized as a sovereign and independent state, although I believe that any such recognition by Iran at this point in time would be temporal, at best, and can only be meaningful by actions, not just simply by such a declaration.…”