[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10633]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     REAFFIRMING THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTING A NUCLEAR ARMED IRAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LOIS FRANKEL

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 25, 2015

  Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, today our nation faces 
challenges across the globe, but there is no threat more central to 
current world order than the prospect of a nuclear armed Iran.
  Tuesday, June 30, is the self-imposed negotiating deadline for the 
P5+1 over Iran's illicit nuclear program. At this critical juncture I 
am thankful for the Administration's repeated promise that no deal is 
better than a bad deal.
  I want to remind my colleagues why this issue is so vital.
  Even a threshold nuclear Iran--where they have a short breakout 
capacity--would lead to massive nuclear proliferation in the Middle 
East. We have already seen troubling statements from regional partners 
like Saudi Arabia about developing or purchasing nuclear weapons of 
their own.
  Mr. Speaker, I don't need to tell you the consequences of possible 
proliferation of the world's most dangerous weapon in the world's most 
dangerous region.
  Just look at the destructive role Iran is already playing in this 
chaotic region without nuclear weapons.
  Iran is the most active state sponsor of terrorism, sending weapons 
and support to Hamas and Hezbollah. It is actively assisting rebel 
advances in Yemen, it has long destabilized Iraq and Lebanon, and it is 
propping up the brutal Assad regime in Syria. Not to mention that this 
Iranian regime systematically violates its own citizen's basic human 
rights.
  That is why there is broad bipartisan support for preventing Iran 
from obtaining nuclear weapons, and on both sides of the aisle, we hope 
for a diplomatic solution to this crisis.
  But we must be vigilant and ensure that if a deal is reached it truly 
is a good deal that verifiably prevents all Iranian pathways to a bomb.
  Such a deal must include five key components: robust and intrusive 
inspections, phased sanctions relief that comes only as a result of 
Iranian compliance, dismantlement of key nuclear infrastructure, 
disclosure of possible military dimensions of the program, and a long 
timeline that gives the international community confidence that it can 
hold Iran accountable.
  My colleagues and I will be watching closely and stand ready to 
scrutinize any final agreement to ensure the future security of our 
nation and that of our allies in the region.

                          ____________________