Guest AuthorThe U.S. House is expected to vote this week on one of the most important nuclear weapons accords in history. I will vote against this deal because it jeopardizes the security of America and the world.
Iran is the leading state sponsor of terrorism and has a clear history of cheating on international arms inspections. This agreement includes secret side deals, makes no allowance for on-the-spot inspections and contains a massive economic boost to Iran that will be used to further spread terrorism and destabilize the Middle East.
The American people understand that the president’s agreement with Iran is bad for our nation. They oppose this deal by a 2-1 margin because they do not trust Iran – nor should they.
It is deeply troubling that, by lifting economic sanctions, we will be pumping tens of billions of dollars into a government that has shown nothing but vehement hostility towards the United States and publicly called for the annihilation of Israel.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei openly chanted “Death to America” in a hate-filled diatribe earlier this year in Tehran. Shortly after the nuclear deal was announced in July, Khamenei vowed that his country would “trample upon America” and that their “policy toward the arrogant U.S. government won’t change at all.”
Allies in the region – who would be on the front lines of a nuclear-armed Iran — have deep concerns.
Earlier this year I met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Defense Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman. While these two men may not always agree on Middle Eastern affairs, they both warned me that Iran cannot be trusted.
In fact, Prime Minister Netanyahu has vocally denounced this deal, saying “Iran is going to receive a sure path to nuclear weapons.”
I also have strong doubts about Iran’s compliance. The country’s long history of cheating on international nuclear agreements has been well documented. There is no reason to believe this time will be any different.
Yet the deal does not provide for “anytime, anywhere” inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities and allows for a 24-day delay before these inspections can take place.
Moreover, it is not clear that we know everything that the agreement encompasses. Initially, the State Department denied the existence of “side deals” between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to skirt these already-weak inspection requirements.
Pressed by the media, the White House reversed course and in fact acknowledged there are unpublicized side deals with Iran –further undermining the credibility of this pact.
Perhaps most troubling is the potential for this to set off a nuclear arms race in the region. Iran’s continued support for terrorist groups and its march toward a nuclear weapon could lead other nations in the region to seek a nuclear weapon.
In dealing with the Soviet Union, President Ronald Reagan famously adopted an attitude of “trust but verify.”
We already know we cannot trust Iran.
The deal to be voted on in Congress provides no reliable way to verify that Iran will halt its nuclear ambitions.
This is why members of Congress from both political parties – including the top Republican and Democrat on both the House and Senate foreign affairs panels – oppose this deal.
The United States must stand strong against any regime that calls for death to our nation. We should reject any deal that leaves the door open to the continued pursuit of a nuclear weapon by a rogue regime such as Iran.
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan represents Florida’s 16th Congressional District. Column courtesy of Context Florida.
