[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 7, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4802-S4803]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NUCLEAR NEGOTIATIONS WITH IRAN

  Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, today, on July 7, we have seen yet another 
extension of the nuclear negotiations with Iran--a terrorist-
sponsoring, anti-American, outlaw regime with the blood of hundreds of 
Americans on its hands, from Lebanon, to Iraq, to Afghanistan. This 
extension is yet another folly. Yet the President and the Secretary of 
State act as if it is cost free. These extensions are not cost free.
  First, Iran repeatedly violates the interim agreements--for example, 
by enriching uranium beyond specified limits or exporting more oil than 
allowed.
  Second, we have repeatedly taught Iran a very dangerous lesson, which 
is that the window for diplomacy never ends with this President and the 
United States. They can get extension after extension after extension, 
and we will grant concession after concession after concession.
  Just 3 months ago, Iran reneged on its commitments to send its 
uranium stockpiles overseas and to close its underground fortified 
military bunker. Now, again, they have taken that lesson and introduced 
a new demand into these negotiations. They are now demanding that the 
West lift its arms embargo on conventional arms to Iran at a time when 
Iran is destabilizing the entire Middle East and that we lift sanctions 
on their ballistic missile program, which was explicitly ruled off the 
negotiating table at the beginning of these negotiations.
  Well, here is my proposal: If Iran wants to introduce new terms to 
the debate at this late hour, the U.S. Government should leave the 
table. We should break off the negotiations, and we should say to Iran: 
If you want to introduce new terms, you will release American hostages 
within 24 hours. Bob Levinson, Amir Hekmati, Saeed Abedini, and Jason 
Rezaian will be released within 24 hours or the negotiations are over, 
we will reimpose sanctions, the U.S. Congress will impose new 
sanctions.

[[Page S4803]]

  It is a disgrace that we are letting Iran add new terms to the 
negotiations at this late hour when four Americans are still held 
hostage by the Government of Iran.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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