[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 94 (Monday, June 3, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S3934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 717--CALLING ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO PURSUE 
CENSURE OF IRAN AT THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA), REFER 
THE ISSUE TO THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL, AND REAFFIRM THAT ALL 
  MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN TO PREVENT THE REGIME IN IRAN FROM ACQUIRING 
                            NUCLEAR WEAPONS

  Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Cassidy, 
Mr. Graham, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Scott of Florida, 
Ms. Lummis, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Budd, and Mr. Ricketts) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                              S. Res. 717

       Whereas the Government of Iran is the leading state sponsor 
     of terrorism, supporting proxies that undermine peace in the 
     Middle East, seek the destruction of the State of Israel, 
     target United States Armed Forces in the region, and threaten 
     the freedom of navigation, including in the Red Sea;
       Whereas Iran's nuclear activities, including its enrichment 
     of near weapons-grade uranium and installation of advanced 
     centrifuges, and expanding missile and drone program pose a 
     significant threat to international security;
       Whereas the Government of Iran has amassed large stockpiles 
     of enriched uranium, including uranium enriched to 60 percent 
     purity, and has developed advanced centrifuge technology, 
     significantly reducing the time required to produce weapons-
     grade uranium;
       Whereas, according to the Director General of the 
     International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran's nuclear 
     enrichment activities have accelerated to the point where the 
     regime can now produce enough weapons-grade uranium for 
     multiple nuclear weapons within days;
       Whereas missiles developed through the regime's expanding 
     missile program, including the development of long-range 
     ballistic missiles, could serve as delivery vehicles for 
     nuclear weapons, thereby increasing the threat posed by the 
     nuclear capabilities of the regime;
       Whereas the Government of Iran's acquisition of nuclear 
     weapons would have catastrophic consequences for regional and 
     global security and undermine the integrity of the Treaty on 
     the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, done at Washington, 
     London, and Moscow July 1, 1968 (commonly referred to as the 
     ``Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty'' or the ``NPT'');
       Whereas the Government of Iran ratified the NPT in 1970 and 
     continues to be a state party to the treaty;
       Whereas Article III of the NPT states, ``Each Non-nuclear-
     weapon State Party to the Treaty undertakes to accept 
     safeguards, as set forth in an agreement to be negotiated and 
     concluded with the International Atomic Energy Agency.'';
       Whereas the IAEA has repeatedly reported on the non-
     compliance of the Government of Iran with its NPT-required 
     safeguards agreement, including the discovery of undeclared 
     nuclear materials and activities at various sites and a 
     recent violation of modified code 3.1 by beginning 
     construction of a new reactor known as IR-360;
       Whereas the regime in Iran has barred IAEA inspectors from 
     fully monitoring its nuclear activities and continues to 
     refuse to cooperate with investigations into its undeclared 
     nuclear materials and activities; and
       Whereas the United States has a responsibility to use its 
     voice and vote at international fora to advance global 
     efforts to hold the Government of Iran accountable for its 
     violations of international non-proliferation agreements 
     including the NPT; Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) reaffirms that the United States Government will take 
     all necessary measures to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear 
     weapons;
       (2) calls on the Biden Administration to pursue a 
     resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) 
     Board of Governors, formally censuring the Government of Iran 
     for its noncompliance with its Comprehensive Safeguard 
     Agreement as required by the NPT, and to refer the issue to 
     the United Nations Security Council;
       (3) urges the Biden Administration to work with partners 
     and allies of the United States to pursue punitive actions in 
     response to violations by the Government of Iran, including 
     but not limited to working with the coalition of France, the 
     United Kingdom, and Germany (known as the ``E3'') to prevent 
     nuclear related restrictions under United Nations Security 
     Council Resolution 2231 (2015) from lapsing, to re-impose 
     sanctions that remain lifted by such resolution, and other 
     measures to enforce compliance with non-proliferation 
     obligations;
       (4) condemns Iran's continued obstruction of basic 
     monitoring and verification activities by the IAEA, as well 
     as its refusal to provide technically credible explanations 
     for the presence of undeclared nuclear materials and 
     activities at sites across Iran;
       (5) acknowledges the critical role of the IAEA in 
     monitoring and verifying nuclear non-proliferation and calls 
     for continued support for the IAEA to ensure robust oversight 
     of Iran's nuclear activities;
       (6) acknowledges the important foundation the NPT provides 
     for the global non-proliferation regime and that any effort 
     to normalize violations of the NPT by the Government of Iran 
     will only serve to further erode global non-proliferation 
     standards;
       (7) supports the imposition of robust sanctions on the 
     Government of Iran for it nuclear and missile programs and on 
     entities and individuals involved in these programs to deter 
     further proliferation efforts; and
       (8) emphasizes the need for a coordinated international 
     response to address the threat posed by Iran's nuclear 
     program and calls on all nations to join the United States in 
     taking decisive action to ensure Iran does not acquire 
     nuclear weapons and to uphold nuclear non-proliferation 
     standards in the Middle East and beyond.

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