Last week, Secretary of State John Kerry and the Obama Administration, along with China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and Germany, negotiated a deal to lift economic sanctions on Iran, a deal that makes a dangerous area more volatile. When it comes to the interests of America, a bad deal with Iran is worse than no deal, and this is a very bad deal.
The weak deal the Obama Administration negotiated is based on the hope that in 10 or 15 years the world is dealing with a kinder, gentler Iran; that is not reality. The government of Iran is still a leading sponsor of terrorism and violator of human rights, and until these situations change, we must keep economic sanctions in place. Instead of forcing Iran to abandon nuclear ambitions and their sponsorship of terrorism, we are giving Iran access to $150 billion in relief, money they are going to use to fund the next generation of terrorists.
The short timeframe for stipulations will allow Iran to quickly cultivate the technology required for a nuclear weapon. Many of the deal’s provisions expire in ten years or earlier. Iran is allowed access to arms in five years if they adhere to the arms embargo, and in just eight years, the missile ban will be removed. All the while, Iran is allowed to enrich massive amounts of uranium. Even more, the deal allows two Iranian atomic scientists previously under sanctions – including one who admitted to lying about Iran’s nuclear program – to get back to work.
With the stakes so high, America needs “anytime, anywhere” short-notice inspections of Iran’s nuclear sites. This deal only includes “managed” inspections which might as well be called “manipulated” inspections. It could take 24 days to get access to nuclear sites, and by then Iran will have had all the time they need to cover up their deceitful actions. America requires surprise inspections on farms and in manufacturing plants and restaurants; we should definitely require it of our enemy’s nuclear sites.
Furthermore, all Americans should be outraged that this deal does not free the four Americans being held in Iran. Refusing the freedom of Americans being held unjustly should be a deal-breaker for the Obama Administration on lifting sanctions on Iran and letting them return to business as usual.
We cannot give Iran the benefit of the doubt on nuclear weapons; the safety of American citizens and our allies, such as Israel, is too important. Iran has a history of breaking its international obligations, and this deal is not strong enough. The president has the authority to decide our vote in the United Nations, but Congress does not have to agree. I will not be supporting this disastrous deal.
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