[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 87 (Friday, June 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1251-E1252]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONDEMNING IRAN FOR CONSTRUCTING A FACILITY TO ENRICH URANIUM, AND FOR 
                          SUPPORTING TERRORISM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 12, 2003

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce a 
resolution, which calls on

[[Page E1252]]

the government of Iran to comply with its NPT obligations, sign the 
AIEA Model Additional Protocol, and halt support for terrorism. Also, 
it asks President Bush and the international community to renew their 
commitment to the war against terrorism, and impede the proliferation 
of weapons of mass destruction.
  The proliferation of nuclear weapons anywhere in the world poses a 
serious threat to international peace and security. The knowledge, non-
nuclear materials, and components needed for the production of nuclear 
weapons are already accessible worldwide. The main technical barrier is 
obtaining the nuclear material. Therefore, to prevent any further 
proliferation of nuclear weapons, we must work to prevent the 
propagation of nuclear materials.
  The director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (AIEA) has 
recently announced that Iran has built a plant to enrich uranium--a key 
component of advanced nuclear weapons. This deeply worries me, because 
U.S. intelligence sources indicate that Iran could develop as many as 
50 nuclear weapons from this facility.
  Mr. Speaker, members of this chamber have not yet given adequate 
attention to the dangers of a nuclear Iran.
  Iran's nuclear intentions are a cause of fear. It is unclear whether 
Iran, by pursuing a sophisticated and advanced nuclear program, has 
chosen to break from the NPT treaty now; but it is obvious that it has 
positioned itself to do so within a very short time if it ever decides 
to.
  Iran is the most active state sponsor of terrorism, and continues to 
provide material support to Hizballah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad--all 
recognized terrorist groups. The country's construction of nuclear 
facilities coupled with its known ties to terrorist groups constitutes 
a threat to global peace and security.
  Nuclear materials that could be used to develop nuclear weapons must 
not fall into the hands of terrorists or state sponsors of terrorism--
like Iran. Preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons capabilities 
must remain a foreign policy and homeland security priority.
  There are many difficulties, but also opportunities, on the road 
towards nuclear non-proliferation. For the last few decades a number of 
diplomatic and political strategies have been pursued. Let me 
empathetically opine that we need to redouble these efforts. If we are 
to achieve a non-nuclear Iran, we must commit to a thoughtful strategy 
of dialogue.

                          ____________________