Strong Criticism from Senior US Congressional Representatives on Nuclear Agreement with Iran

Several prominent representatives and senators in the US Congress criticized the comprehensive nuclear agreement reached between Iran and world powers on Tuesday, July 23, deeming it detrimental to Israel and the Middle East. According to a bill signed by President Barack Obama last month, the US Congress has 60 days to review and either approve or reject the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers. Some senior members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, where Republicans hold the majority, are not optimistic about this agreement and believe that the achievements of the two-week negotiations in Vienna will ultimately not prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina and a Republican presidential candidate stated: "This is a terrible agreement. It will make everything worse, and I am very concerned that we will witness a decade of disaster." He added that any senator who votes in favor of this agreement is voting for a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, which means giving $18 billion to the largest state sponsor of terrorism. Graham emphasized: "What do you think they (the Iranians) will do with this money? It will flow to (Bashar) Assad, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Hamas." He stressed: "With this agreement, rest assured that Arab countries will move towards nuclearization. You have put Israel in a dire situation. If you do not withdraw from this agreement, it is a death sentence for Israel. You have put our nation at risk." John Boehner, Speaker of the House of Representatives, also condemned the nuclear agreement with Iran and six world powers, stating: "The American people and our allies were counting on President Barack Obama's words. Instead, the President abandoned his goals. His agreement will allow billions (of dollars) from the lifting of sanctions to flow to Iran, giving it the time and space necessary to acquire nuclear weapons." This Republican member asserted: "Instead of making the world safer, this agreement will only embolden Iran - the world's largest sponsor of terrorism - by helping to destabilize and legitimize its regime." Boehner stated that Congress will carefully review the details of this agreement. Senator Tom Cotton, a 38-year-old Republican, is another staunch critic of the agreement, stating to his colleagues: "Any representative or senator who votes (in favor) of this agreement has handed their political fate to the ayatollahs... because if Iran obtains nuclear weapons within a year, five years, or ten years, the American people will seek to know who supported this agreement that allowed them (the Iranians) to acquire nuclear weapons." Democratic Representative Steve Israel from New York also expressed skepticism about the negotiations from the beginning and remains doubtful about the Iranians. He stated that during the voting on this agreement, he feels it is his duty to examine it line by line, paragraph by paragraph, to ensure that existing concerns are addressed. Senator Bob Menendez from the Democratic Party also expressed concern that this agreement may ultimately legitimize Iran's status as a nuclear state. According to the Associated Press, Menendez said: "I am worried that the red lines we drew may have turned into green lines and that Iran has merely limited its nuclear program instead of dismantling it, while the international community lifts sanctions." After the text of the agreement is registered, representatives have 60 days to vote in favor or against it or even take no action at all. Republican Representative Ted Yoho from Florida stated: "This agreement is like giving a crocodile more teeth and thinking it will now be nice to us." If this agreement is as the US government claims, it would be a significant and historic diplomatic achievement. Democratic Representative Barbara Boxer from California stated: "If this agreement is as the US government says, it will be a major and historic diplomatic achievement." The report indicates that various Senate and House committees will hold further discussions on this agreement, but the likelihood of voting on the nuclear agreement with Iran before August and the congressional summer recess is very low. Democratic Representative Chuck Schumer from New York stated: "Supporting or opposing this agreement is not an easy task, and I intend to carefully review its provisions before making any smart decisions." According to the 159-page Vienna agreement, which was confirmed by Iran and world powers on Tuesday, some of Iran's nuclear activities will be suspended, and its limitations in this regard will last for ten years. In return, a long list of individuals, companies, and Iranian institutions will be removed from the sanctions of the US, the European Union, and the United Nations. However, this agreement will require about three months to be finalized in the capitals of the six world powers and Iran before implementation. President Barack Obama welcomed this agreement and threatened Congress that if they reject the agreement with Iran, he will veto their resolution. Overriding the President's veto requires a two-thirds vote from both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader of the Senate, stated that Obama's approach to the nuclear negotiations was fundamentally "wrong" and said: "Instead of advancing America's national interests and ending Iran's nuclear program, Obama entered negotiations aiming to achieve the best acceptable agreement for Iran." As Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated on Monday, question-and-answer sessions to review this agreement will begin at the end of this month, and voting on its approval or rejection will take place in mid-September.