[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 176 (Thursday, December 12, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H7696-H7697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           IRAN NEGOTIATIONS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Ellison) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, for 34 years, the United States and Iran 
have had no diplomatic relations. Iran has escalated its nuclear 
weapons program and hostile rhetoric.
  The United States has upped sanctions and threats of military force. 
There can be little doubt that, when our diplomats and politicians say 
all options are on the table, we mean military force.
  And yet, today, under the leadership of President Obama, we have an 
opportunity to change all that, to avoid the prospect of war or a 
nuclear-armed Iran. We have a chance to set a new course, a new path. 
Instead of the collision course, we have an off-ramp, an off-ramp to 
peace, diplomacy and international cooperation; and we must take it.
  This is our best opportunity in 30 years to advance the interests of 
the United States vis-a-vis Iran. It is our best chance to make sure 
that the Middle East is as free and safe as possible of nuclear 
weapons.
  The Iranian people defied the odds and elected a moderate President, 
Hassan Rouhani. President Rouhani has condemned the inflammatory 
rhetoric of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He has promised to improve Iran's 
relationship to the West.
  Now, instead of moving forward toward the brink of war, the United 
States and Iran are negotiating, talking; and this is a good thing. 
This is the way countries should pursue their interests. This is the 
way to avoid war.
  Through diplomacy, the United States and its allies have frozen 
Iran's nuclear program for the first time in more than a decade. The 
agreement imposes daily inspections to ensure Iran will not develop a 
nuclear weapon, and Iran has made agreements to move this process 
forward.
  Ending our decades-long cold war with Iran isn't going to happen 
overnight; but through robust, sustained diplomacy, we may prevent an 
Iranian nuclear weapon and disastrous war and spare thousands of our 
children and theirs from a horrible situation.
  We cannot achieve these goals if Congress undermines these 
negotiations, and I have supported sanctions in the past. In fact, I 
have a very good friend and constituent who is in the Chamber today who 
has supported sanctions. She was born and raised in Iran, is very 
concerned about the human rights situation there, and has informed me 
over the years about the best position that I might take. And she also 
says now is not the time to hit the accelerator; it is the time to let 
diplomacy work.
  These sanctions would undermine the confidence of our international 
partners, including the P5+1. China, Russia, the United States, 
Germany, and France are all part of this negotiation with Iran. And if 
we up sanctions while we have claimed that we want to work with them to 
have a reduction in nuclear weaponry in Iran, they may well see this as 
a break and a breach of faith with them, which could set us all back.
  It has not been easy to get Iran, Russia, and China to the table. We 
have them there. Let's not lose this chance.
  New sanctions stand to kill any hope for diplomacy. Iran's Foreign 
Minister, Javad Zarif, has said that if Congress imposes new sanctions, 
``the entire deal is dead.''
  Is that what we want?
  New sanctions will not increase our negotiating power. If they would, 
the White House certainly would have told us so. In fact, the White 
House has warned that new sanctions will undermine negotiations.
  Negotiations over the next 6 months are the only way to guarantee 
that Iran will not develop a nuclear weapon and will set itself on a 
path to rejoin the world of nations. And this could well improve the 
human rights situation in Iran, as it has no justification for the 
police state which denies human rights.
  Congress should give diplomats space to do their jobs. Undercutting 
diplomacy with new sanctions would put our country on the path to war.
  The choice is clear. We can try to negotiate a deal that prevents an 
Iranian nuclear weapon and avoids a nuclear conflict, or we can dismiss 
this opportunity, pile on more sanctions, derail diplomacy, and 
continue toward war.
  Americans don't want another war. The best way to honor our men and 
women in uniform is to avoid unnecessary war. My son is Active Duty 
military. I am speaking from a personal place as well.
  Americans support a negotiated deal with Iran by a 2-1 ratio; 68 
percent say Congress should not take action that would block an 
agreement.
  Passing any punitive measures, including a sense of Congress tying 
the President's hands, is a mistake. It will not help; and if Congress 
wants to help, we should set up a people-to-people exchange. We should 
set up a Congress-to-Congress exchange and move forward.


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded not to make reference 
to occupants of the gallery.

[[Page H7697]]

  The Chair will remind all persons in the gallery that they are here 
as guests of the House and that any manifestation of approval or 
disapproval of the proceedings is in violation of the rules of House.

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