WASHINGTON, DC (Press Release)– Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-New York), the Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on the nuclear agreement reached by P5+1 and Iran:
“The international community entered into negotiations with Iran with one united goal: prevent the regime from obtaining nuclear weapons. Congress will now begin a comprehensive review of the agreement to determine whether this goal can be fulfilled under the deal’s parameters.
“There’s no question that Secretary Kerry has worked tirelessly to bring about this agreement, and his efforts are to be commended. However, I continue to have long-standing concerns about the enforcement and verifiability of any agreement with Iran, given their long history of deception and well-documented illicit activity in the region.
“As we thoroughly examine the proposal, I hope to hear directly from the IAEA that their inspectors will have unfettered access to any site in order to verify compliance. The UN Security Council resolution on specific consequences for any violations of the deal is vital, and any relief for arms and ballistic missile-related sanctions requires serious scrutiny. Most importantly, I do not support providing any economic relief until Iran has indisputably met their obligations and demonstrated their sincerity.
“While this is only an agreement about Iran’s nuclear program, the Administration must concurrently work to bolster our allies in the region and counter Iran’s support of terrorist groups. For a new era of engagement to ever truly take hold, Iran must stop threatening to annihilate Israel and safely return the four Americans missing or held captive inside Iran.
“Congress has played, and will continue to play, an indispensable role in bringing about and reviewing any deal. There is no greater national security challenge than the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran, and we should approach this challenge in close coordination with our allies who also have so much at stake.”
*
Articles about Jewish women in Congress are sponsored by Laura Galinson in memory of her father, Murray Galinson.
Preceding provided by Congresswoman Nita Lowey
From all reports so far, there will be no verifiable information on Iran’s conduct. This would require anytime, anywhere inspections, and this is not in the agreement. I am convinced, though, if a worse agreement could have been made, Kerry would have made it. — Jerome Liner, Cincinnati, Ohio