[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18693]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     IRAN INTERIM NUCLEAR AGREEMENT

  (Mr. PRICE of North Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, if the interim nuclear deal 
negotiated last month leads to a final agreement, Iran can be prevented 
from developing a nuclear weapon. This would neutralize one of the 
greatest threats facing the United States, Israel, and the 
international community and could set the stage for a new era of 
relations between Iran and the West.
  The unprecedented sanctions already in place have brought the Iranian 
economy to its knees and the government to the negotiating table. We 
are entering these talks from a position of strength; we have a strong 
hand to play.
  But if Congress rushes through another round of sanctions or takes 
other action perceived as undermining the negotiations, we will be 
giving up our hand before we have a chance to play it. Iran would then 
have an excuse to walk away from the table, and the international 
coalition that has been so critical to the current sanctions regime 
could fracture, thus weakening the leverage we already have.
  There is no guarantee that a final deal is possible. But given the 
stakes involved, we simply must try, for the alternative is far worse. 
Iran would then be left to develop its nuclear program without 
supervision, and the U.S. could be drawn into another costly war in the 
Middle East.
  I urge my colleagues to support the interim nuclear agreement and 
oppose any attempt to undermine our country's diplomacy.

                          ____________________