After wrapping up a series of votes today in opposition to the Administration’s nuclear agreement with Iran, Congressman Curt Clawson (Fl-19) issued the following statement:
“There is no question that the so-called Iran deal is deeply flawed. To claim the U.S. cannot force a new deal grossly underestimates the leverage we have. Access to the U.S markets, U.S. trade, and U.S. financial institutions is crucial to most of the free world’s nations and companies, and for the Administration not to have harnessed this leverage is a tragically missed opportunity. America is the engine for economic growth world-wide.
“The world does not need the current deal because instead of rendering Iran unable to ever build nuclear weapons, it legitimizes Iran as a nuclear threshold state. And the rhetoric of the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei this week, asserting that Israel will not exist in 25 years and there will be no dealing with the U.S. beyond the nuclear talks, confirms that this must be prevented. We need for either the current or the next Administration to reject the proposed deal, and then use our economic leverage with trading partners to force a new agreement.
“Let’s take all the time needed to do this correctly. Six U.N. Resolutions prohibiting Iran from going nuclear, plus conventional arms and missile embargos – are in place – supported by financial sanctions and trade restrictions. Continued support that protects our national defense from budget cuts is critical as history has taught us that ‘Peace Through Strength’ works.
“With the proposed deal, Iran will be able to produce as many bombs as it likes. This deal legitimizes the world’s worst state sponsor of terrorism and provides a cash bonanza, while creating a pathway to economic prosperity. This agreement allows the regime to build advanced centrifuges, continue uranium enrichment, become a legal nuclear threshold state, buy conventional weapons and ballistic missiles, freely export energy, fund terrorist proxies, threaten Israel, hold American prisoners, and even, via secret side deals, self-inspect nuclear weapons research sites.
“Iran must dismantle its nuclear infrastructure, which is left virtually intact in the proposed deal. Let’s close every pathway towards nuclear weapons.
“To not leverage our global clout and influence squanders an historic opportunity. We’ve got to negotiate from strength, like we do in successful business deals.
“For the future of the civilized world, let’s leverage our global influence. Let’s insist on a new deal that permanently dismantles Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.”
Prior to voting against the Administration’s nuclear deal with Iran, Clawson supported a measure in the House affirming that the Administration did not comply with the requirement to disclose the entire agreement to the U.S. Congress. Clawson also today supported a measure suspending the authority of the President from conducting further nuclear talks with Iran until January 21, 2017, the day after a new President is sworn into office.