[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 12, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E11]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IRAN REFINED PETROLEUM SANCTIONS ACT OF 2009

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                               speech of

                         HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 15, 2009

  Mr. ANDREWS. Madam Speaker, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act 
offers the Iranian regime a clear choice; either Iran can discontinue 
its nuclear weapons program or the Iranian economy will be severely 
disrupted by these tough new economic sanctions. As we have seen over 
recent months, the Iranian regime has proven to be openly and 
appallingly despotic. After falsifying election results, the Iranian 
leadership crushed the political opposition with brutal violence which 
was broadcast to every corner of the world. We have seen what this 
regime is capable of, and these tyrannical leaders cannot be trusted 
with nuclear weapons. Now, as this brutal regime comes ever closer to 
the development of a nuclear weapon the international community, acting 
through the United Nations Security Council, must use sanctions to 
pressure Iran to stop their nuclear program. This is in the self-
interest of all the permanent members of the Security Council. The 
stability of the entire region would be threatened if Iran were to 
develop a nuclear weapon as other leaders would certainly decide that a 
nuclear Iran on their doorstep would necessitate a nuclear program of 
their own. Iran has been given until the end of this year by President 
Obama to negotiate in good faith. The clock is ticking down, and when 
we reach midnight on December 31st, billions around the world will 
celebrate the dawning of a new year. For the brutal Iranian regime, it 
will mean that their window of opportunity has slammed shut. They will 
have sealed their fate. Either they will have joined the nations of the 
world to create a more peaceful 21st century, or they will be facing 
the political and economic consequences of their own actions.

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