After reports emerged that the U.S. and Iran will meet later this month to discuss restoring the Obama administration’s nuclear deal with that nation, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., doubled down on his resolution condemning that agreement.
Over the weekend, Scott came out swinging at the agreement which the Trump administration ended.
“The disastrous Iran nuclear deal was President Obama’s mistake and President Trump was right to abandon it,” Scott insisted before maintaining that President Joe Biden “needs to prioritize U.S. national security and our ally Israel and oppose re-joining this deal without major changes.”
Scott used the occasion to showcase his resolution “expressing opposition to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and urging President Biden to work with Congress and refuse to re-join the deal without significant reform” that he introduced back in February.
“President Trump was right to abandon the reckless Iran nuclear deal that President Obama got us into, and I’m proud my colleagues joined me today to oppose re-joining this deal without major changes. The sanctions the Trump administration levied on Iran are working, and must remain in place until Iran fully cooperates and their ability to develop nuclear weapons and produce ballistic missiles is permanently removed. President Biden must be responsible about this and work with Congress to protect national security and the interests of America and our great ally Israel,” Scott said when he introduced the resolution.
Two other Republicans in the Senate–Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and Joni Ernst of Iowa–are behind the resolution.
“Iran continues to pose a serious threat, not only on the global stage as they are allowed to advance their unfettered ballistic missile capacities, but also in the Middle East, as they continue to support and finance terrorist organization proxies that destabilize the region, endangering American servicemembers and our partners. President Biden’s first responsibility is to keep the nation safe, and that includes making sure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon. The loophole-ridden Iran Deal did not go far enough in its efforts to permanently dismantle Iran’s nuclear program—lacking basic oversight and enforcement, and allowing a dishonest Iran to continue its destabilizing activity. Even to discuss rejoining the original Iran nuclear deal right now is unwise. To appease this terrorist state could be catastrophic, and I’m proud to join my colleagues in this important resolution,” Ernst said.
“The Iran nuclear deal jeopardized the security of our allies in the region and the American people, and we gained nothing in return,” said Cramer. “Re-entering it without significant changes would endanger the world. Instead of retrying what already failed, President Biden should work with Congress to develop a strategy to properly combat this state sponsor of terrorism.”
The resolution has been before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee for the last two months.
Reach Kevin Derby at [email protected].
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