NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) renewed its call for Congress to take up debate on the essential principles that must underpin any nuclear agreement with Iran.
Since UANI first made its call in October, a consensus has developed in support of Congressional involvement. As American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) president Michael Kassen and chairman of the board Lee Rosenberg argued in Saturday’s New York Times:
[W]e support a policy that complements the current negotiations with a range of congressional actions that threaten greater economic and diplomatic pressure on the Iranian government. … [W]e urge Congress to outline for Iran the acceptable terms of a final accord. This must include, at a minimum, the dismantling of its nuclear program, so that Iran has neither a uranium nor a plutonium pathway to a nuclear weapon.
Said UANI CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace:
There is a consensus in America that Congress must take action on the Iran nuclear issue, and take up debate on the principles that must underpin a comprehensive agreement. Clearly, the P5+1 and Iran are far apart on agreeing to a comprehensive nuclear deal, and it is obvious that Iran would be happy to maintain the status quo of enjoying sanctions relief while continuing to advance its nuclear program.
We renew our call for Congress to actively take part in this process and make its position known. Congress should make clear that Iran cannot be permitted to retain an industrial-scale nuclear program. This would entail Iran capping its centrifuges to a small fraction of the nearly 20,000 it currently possesses, or more appropriately to none at all. Iran must be kept well over a year away from nuclear breakout, given its long history of duplicity and hostility.
Critically, Congress must also make clear that the Iranian regime will face devastating consequences if it continues to maintain a maximalist position and use negotiations with the P5+1 to stall. Congress should state unequivocally that six months from the adoption of the interim agreement, absent a comprehensive deal, Iran will face the most robust sanctions in history, culminating in an economic blockade that will drive its oil sales to zero and cripple key sectors of its economy.
In its October 31 letter to President Obama and Congress, UANI stated that: “Given the historic consequence of a potential rapprochement with Iran and the terms of a potential nuclear agreement, it is vitally important that the U.S. once again speaks with a united voice.”
In a November 14 Op-Ed for Politico Magazine, “How to Stare Down Iran,” Ambassador Wallace joined UANI advisory board members Joseph Lieberman and Fran Townsend, in arguing that involvement “is quite an appropriate role for Congress to play, given its authority in passing, lifting and potentially increasing sanctions against the Islamic Republic.”
On January 28, Ambassador Wallace testified before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, regarding the implementation of the Geneva agreement. Said Ambassador Wallace: “I respectfully implore you all to say what are your red lines on enrichment, on the heavy water reactor, and the like. … Six months from the adoption of the interim agreement, this Congress should make clear that Iran will face the most robust sanctions in history.”
Click here to read UANI’s Politico Magazine Op-Ed.
Click here to read UANI’s October 31 letter to President Obama and Congress.
Click here to read Ambassador Wallace’s January 28 testimony before Congress.
