[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 146 (Friday, October 17, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2085-E2086]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REGARDING THE FAILURE OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF 
IRAN TO ADHERE TO ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER A SAFEGUARDS AGREEMENT WITH THE 
                   INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY

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                            HON. JANE HARMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 17, 2003

  Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues Mark Kirk, Curt 
Weldon and Howard Berman in introducing today a resolution expressing 
Congress's deepening concerns about Iran's nuclear program.
  For many years, I have been persuaded by the available evidence that 
Iran was pursuing a nuclear weapons program, starting with

[[Page E2086]]

transfers of nuclear and missile technology and expertise from Russia. 
Indeed, it was my resolution in the 105th Congress (House Concurrent 
Resolution 121) that called on the President to demand that the 
Government of Russia take actions to stop governmental and 
nongovernmental entities in the Russian Federation from providing 
missile technology and technical advice to Iran in violation of the 
Missile Technology Control Regime.
  Evidence continues to accumulate raising questions about Iran's 
intentions, notwithstanding that country's signing of the Treaty on the 
Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Recently, environmental sampling 
by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at Iran's Natanz 
nuclear facility revealed the presence of two types of highly enriched 
uranium that can be used to develop nuclear weapons. And, earlier in 
the year, IAEA announced that Iran was constructing a facility to 
enrich uranium.
  These developments prompted the Director General of the IAEA to 
express concern over the failure of the government of Iran to report 
material, facilities and activities at its nuclear facilities, 
including those that have the potential to enrich uranium and develop 
nuclear weapons. As a result, last month, the IAEA board of directors 
adopted a resolution calling on Iran to provide that organization, by 
October 31st, with a full declaration of all imported material and 
components relevant to the uranium enrichment program and to grant 
unrestricted access to IAEA inspectors.

  Mr. Speaker, concerns about Iran's intentions are further underscored 
by Iran's successful test earlier this summer of the 800-mile range 
Shahab-3 missile and the persuasive evidence that is it seeking to 
produce a 1,200 mile Shahab-4 missile.
  Coupled with Iran's known support for terrorist groups, it is clear 
to me and my colleagues that Iran poses a serious national security 
threat to the United States and its allies and other countries in the 
region. We can't idly wait for developments to unfold.
  The concurrent resolution we introduce today clearly expresses 
Congress' view that the President must use all appropriate means to 
prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. It also calls on the 
members states of the United Nations, particularly Russia, to join 
together to dissuade Iran and, if necessary, to impose sanctions if 
Iran does not fulfill its obligations to the International Atomic 
Energy Agency by October 31.
  Failure to act can only encourage Iran to pursue a dangerous and 
destabilizing course. Iran must cease all efforts to acquire nuclear 
capabilities until it is able to verify that it is not continuing to 
engage in a nuclear weapons program.

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