Newsletter: Why I Will Vote Against the Nuclear Agreement with Iran

Statement

Dear Friends,

I will oppose President Obama's nuclear agreement with Iran. Under the provisions of the Iran Nuclear Review Act of 2015, Congress has the authority to review the July 14 agreement and block the lifting of sanctions. The vote in the House is expected next week.

On Tuesday, I issued a news release explaining my thinking. The statement follows:

"I was initially skeptical of the nuclear talks because Iran has long proven unworthy of our trust. But I kept an open mind because diplomacy is an important tool to prevent global conflicts.

"Having carefully studied President Obama's nuclear agreement with Iran, I will vote against the agreement because it threatens our national security and clears the way for a rogue nation to secretly develop nuclear weapons. It would free about $120 billion in frozen assets that the Obama Administration admits could be used by the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism to finance more attacks on innocents.

"The Administration's interest in a foreign policy legacy has produced a misbegotten deal that escalates risk. The one-sided document is riddled with loopholes, including a 24-day delay before inspectors may access undeclared nuclear sites. The recent revelation of a secret side deal allowing Iran to conduct its own inspections of the military site at Parchin is proof that the U.S. is placing far too much trust in one of history's most dubious and dangerous regimes.

"The agreement fails to make the world safer. Instead, it gives Iran access to sophisticated nuclear technology that could allow advancement of a weapons program, lifts bans on Iran's import and export of conventional weapons and development of ballistic missiles, and risks stimulating a Middle East arms race. It also lifts sanctions on Iranians responsible for killing Americans.

"We must not invest our confidence in a country that continues to wrongfully imprison Americans, including Boise Pastor Saeed Abedini. Congress should reject this risky deal, continue sanctions, keep all our options on the table and encourage the President to resume negotiations on a stronger agreement."

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