Senator Coons Supports Iran Nuclear Deal
U.S. Senator Chris Coons announced that he will be supporting the Iran Nuclear Deal at the University of Delaware on Tuesday. He also plans to vote against any measures to overrule it in congress.
Senator Coons says, “I will support this agreement because it puts us on a known path of limiting Iran’s nuclear plan for the next fifteen years with the full support of the international community. Let’s be clear. No one could mistake Iran for a friend of the united states.”
The agreement reached in July, means Iran has agreed to limit its nuclear program and submit most parts of it to a new inspections regime. In return, sanctions which have crippled their economy would be lifted.
Senator Coons admits in theory the deal isn’t bad, but its far from what he wanted. He continues, “This agreement at best freezes Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. It does not dismantle or destroy it as I had hoped.”
That’s only one of the senator’s serious concerns with the agreement. He has plenty more, like the timing and details of nuclear inspections.
He continues, “We should expect Iran that Iran will use sanction relief to support and arm it’s proxies in the region. This includes terrorists organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah that threaten and attack Israel, or support the murderous regime of Assad in Syria and the Hutis in Yemen.”
With all of that in mind, Senator Coons says if the U.S. rejects the agreement the path forward would be even less clear.
For example, Iran could race towards a nuclear weapon unrestrained by this agreement. That could lead to military action against Israel and even the U.S.
Another option, the other negotiating partners in the deal could move forward without the U.S. That has the ability to weaken America’s role in leadership.
Senator Coons believes that’s too great of a risk to take, ultimately turning towards this deal as the best option available.
Senator Coons says he has spoken with all of the undecided senators about this deal. Even though it’s not projected to pass in Congress, he thinks it’s going to end up being a close call.
