Floor Speeches and Congressional Record Statements
Smith Speaks on House Floor Against Deal...House Votes Down Iran DealSmith: Iranian Nuclear State 'Inevitable' Under Flawed Weapons DealWith the House of Representatives voting 162-258 today to resoundingly reject the controversial Iran nuclear deal, Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee who voted against the deal, delivered the following remarks during debate on the House floor: “What was previously unacceptable—an Iranian nuclear state—is now inevitable under the terms and conditions of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. “Tragically, the deal is riddled with serious flaws, gaps, and huge concessions to Iran. Taken as a whole, the deal poses an existential threat to Israel and other friends in the region—and is a significant risk to the United States. “Not only is Iran now permitted to continue enriching uranium—a previous nonnegotiable redline was no enrichment whatsoever—but under this agreement, Iran will not be required to dismantle its bomb-making technology and will have an internationally recognized, industrial-scale nuclear program once the agreement begins to “sunset” in as little as a decade. “And make no mistake, Iran’s decades-long rabid hatred of Israel shows no sign of abating anytime soon. Yesterday, the Times of Israel reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said to Israel: “You will not see (the) next 25 years,” adding that the Jewish state will be hounded until it is destroyed. “Mr. Speaker, inspections are anything but “anytime, anywhere”—the Obama Administration’s previous pledge to the nation and the world. We have learned that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has entered into a secret agreement to preclude unfettered, robust inspection. That secret deal has not been conveyed to Congress pursuant to the Corker law. “Iran currently is the world’s leading supporter of terrorism, and this agreement provides tens of billions of dollars for weapons and war making matériel. “Supreme Leader Khamenei criticized any call for Iran to end its ballistic missile program, characterizing it as “a stupid, idiotic expectation” and claiming “The Revolutionary Guards should definitely carry out their program and not be satisfied with the present level. They should mass produce.” Countries build ICBMs, Mr. Speaker, to deliver nukes. “And the Administration was reluctant to use its leverage during the negotiations to free the four Americans held hostage in Iran today. Pastor Saeed Abedini, Amir Hekmati, Jason Rezaian, and Robert Levinson remain in jail – abused, tortured or missing. “Congress should vote down the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, reinstate comprehensive, robust sanctions and direct the executive branch to resume the struggle to craft an enforceable accord to ensure no nuclear weapons capability for Iran—ever.” ### |