[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 70 (Wednesday, June 3, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1002-E1003]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      PROSPECTS FOR CHANGE IN IRAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 3, 1998

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, on May 21 I joined a Congressional panel 
on U.S. policy options and prospects for change in Iran. The panel 
discussed President Khatami's election and Iran's efforts to acquire 
weapons of mass destruction. I am certain that my colleagues will join 
me in recognizing the threat that Iran would pose to the U.S. and the 
region if it is successful in acquiring nuclear weapons.
  I have introduced legislation (H.R. 3743) to thwart Iran's 
development of nuclear weapons. The Iran Nuclear Proliferation 
Prevention Act of 1998 will require the withholding of U.S. 
proportional voluntary assistance to the International Atomic Energy 
Agency for programs and projects of the Agency in Iran. The bill seeks 
to limit assistance from the Agency for the completion of the Bushehr 
Nuclear Power Plant in Iran. It is believed that the completion of the 
Bushehr plant will result in the transfer of civilian nuclear 
technology and training that could help to advance Iran's nuclear 
weapons program.
  Firmness is the only means of deterring Khatami and the clerical 
regime from their quest for an arsenal of weapons of mass destruction. 
We must make it clear, especially now when the mullahs may well be on 
their last legs, that we support the kind of progress towards democracy 
and genuine reform promised by the democratic opposition.
  Mr. Speaker, I am submitting my remarks to the panel on this matter 
to be printed in the Congressional Record:

       I want to thank the National Council of Resistance of Iran 
     for organizing this event and for their ongoing efforts to 
     focus attention on the rogue regime that continues to reside 
     in Tehran under President Khatami.
       Each of us here today, looks forward to the day when Iran 
     rejoins the community of democratic nations. However, today 
     is not that day. President Khatami, while slightly more 
     moderate than his predecessor will not or cannot overcome the 
     political forces in Iran which avidly pursue the development 
     of weapons of mass destruction and continue support for 
     terrorism.
       We have heard many disturbing facts and figures, about 
     Iranian human rights violations, about chaos and conflict 
     within the country, and about Iran's support of international 
     terrorist organizations, such as Hizballah, Hamas and the 
     Palestine Islamic Jihad, all of which are responsible for 
     terrorist attacks on Israel. Each of these facts reflects the 
     ruling regime's status as a rogue state, which considers 
     itself above international law, with little respect for human 
     life, let alone human rights. The prospect of that regime 
     armed with nuclear weapons is not a pleasant one.
       Just this week, Russia and Iran announced that over the 
     strong objections of the U.S. and Israel, that they would be 
     stepping up their cooperation in the field of nuclear 
     technology. In fact, Iran's Atomic Energy Minister made it 
     clear that the two countries are considering further 
     cooperation beyond their current project to build a nuclear 
     power plant in Iran.
       To give you a little background, Iran has been seeking 
     nuclear power since the early 1970's, when the Shah attempted 
     to build two reactors in Bushehr. The project, begun by a 
     German company in 1974, was suspended following the 1979 
     Revolution. The clerical regime's efforts to obtain nuclear 
     capability began in earnest in the midst of the Iran-Iraq 
     War, in 1985, and in February of this year, Tehran announced 
     its intention to construct two Russian reactors in Bushehr.
       The question remains, why has Iran devoted such colossal 
     resources, money and effort to build the Bushehr power plant. 
     Iran claims to need the Bushehr nuclear reactors to supply 
     energy to the country. Yet, Iran's immense oil and natural 
     gas reserves call into question its motives for constructing 
     expensive nuclear reactors. Iran has 9.3 percent of the 
     world's oil reserves and natural gas reserves, second only to 
     Russia. Clearly, Iran does not need additional energy 
     sources,

[[Page E1003]]

     nor is nuclear energy an economic choice for Iran. So what is 
     the motive?
       It should not be a revelation to anyone that Iran is 
     seeking to acquire nuclear weapons.
       In 1991, Ayatollah Mohajerani, one of Rafsanjani's 
     deputies, clarified the need to obtain nuclear weapons. 
     ``Since the enemy has nuclear facilities,'' he said, 
     ``Islamic countries must be armed with the same capacity.''
       In 1989, Rafsanjani underscored the need to obtain an 
     atomic arsenal, stressing that ``Iran cannot overlook the 
     reality of nuclear strength in the modern world.'' Nuclear 
     arms, in the Tehran mullahs' view, are ``the most important 
     strategic guarantee'' of their survival.
       For this reason, I introduced the Iran Nuclear 
     Proliferation Prevention Act. The bill will eliminate the use 
     of U.S. taxpayer dollars to the International Atomic Energy 
     Agency to provide assistance to Iran for the completion of 
     the Bushehr plant. The U.S. believes that the completion of 
     the Bushehr plant could provide Iran with substantial 
     expertise to advance its nuclear weapons program. It is 
     ludicrous for the U.S. to support a plant--even indirectly--
     which could pose a threat to the United States and to 
     stability in the Middle East.
       Beyond, Iran's nuclear weapons development program, there 
     is substantial evidence of its efforts to develop other 
     weapons of mass destruction.
       Late last year, Satellite reconnaissance of the Shahid 
     Hemat Industrial Group research facility, not far south of 
     Tehran, had picked up the heat signature of an engine test 
     for a new generation of Iranian ballistic missiles, ``each 
     capable of carrying a 2,200-lb. warhead more than 800 
     miles,'' within strategic range of Israel.
       In January, a senior Clinton administration official told 
     the Associated Press that ``Iran's purchase of Russian 
     missile technology is giving Iran an opportunity to `leap 
     ahead' in developing new weapons'' and according to a CIA 
     report, Iran remains the largest illicit buyer of 
     conventional weapons among `pariah' states, buying an 
     estimated $20 million to $30 million worth of U.S. military 
     parts in 1997.
       After the cease-fire in the Iran-Iraq War in 1988, Tehran 
     stepped up its efforts to produce an indigenous chemical and 
     biological arsenal. Thanks to equipment and technology 
     legally or illegally imported from abroad, the Tehran regime 
     is presently able to produce a series of biological and 
     chemical weapons. Defense Secretary Cohen has expressed 
     concern that Iran may have produced up to 200 tons of VX 
     nerve agent and 6,000 gallons of anthrax.
       Tehran's unrelenting quest for nuclear weapons and 
     ballistic missiles clearly attests that the clerical regime 
     has no intention of moderating its behavior. Appeasement by 
     the West will only provide the mullahs with more room to 
     maneuver. We need a comprehensive policy, that both protects 
     us from the current threat and safeguards our future 
     interests in that part of the world.
       Firmness is the only means of deterring Khatami and the 
     clerical regime from their quest for an arsenal of weapons of 
     mass destruction. We must make it clear, especially now when 
     the mullahs may well be on their last legs, that we support 
     the kind of progress towards democracy and genuine reform 
     promised by the democratic opposition.

     

                          ____________________