Toomey, Casey press for additional sanctions against Iran
Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey is calling for more stringent sanctions be imposed on Iran, despite threats from the Obama administration that any new legislation will be vetoed by the president.
“Iran is playing us for fools, and time is running short before the most dangerous regime in the world has the most destructive weapon in the world,” said Toomey. “If the White House lacks a sense of urgency about this unfolding nightmare, then Congress must provide it.”
At a recent Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee meeting, Toomey said that earlier sanctions brought the Iranians to the negotiating table. However, the easing of those sanctions have allowed Iran to push back deadlines for an agreement to be put in place.
“The whole purpose of sanctions is to raise the cost of acquiring nuclear weapons to an unacceptable high level for the Iranian regime; to make the cost exceed the preceived benefit, ” he said. “Now Iran has allowed the second deadline to pass without an agreement, their nuclear program continues and their economy has begun to recover.”
Toomey said that a third deadline should not be allowed to pass without consequences.
“In my view, prospective, tough, conditional sanctions should be implemented, if Iran, for the third time, chooses to obfuscate and delay, rather than reach an agreement,” he said. “Iran should know now that’s what is coming.”
While Iran claims it is only developing nuclear power, the U.S. believes it is also trying to develop nuclear weapons. Iranians continue to deny access to a military site suspected of being the location for the nuclear activities.
Iranians are demanding that the previous sanctions, involving banking and energy restrictions, be lifted as a sign of good faith.
The deadline to reach an agreement is March 1 and the terms implemented by June 30.
While the president has been adamant he will not sign any legislation that imposes additional sanctions, it appears more Democrats are moving toward the GOP stance to do so.
Democratic New York Sen. Chuck Schumer said recently he would support legislation proposed by Republican Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk that would tightened sanctions should the Iranians walk away from the negotiating table.
Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, a member of the National Security Working Group, said it is critical that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons.
“While I remain skeptical of the regime’s intentions and mindful that they have negotiated in bad faith before, it is in our national security interest for the parties to continue their efforts towards reaching a comprehensive agreement,” he said. “The administration should work expeditiously to conclude negotiations sooner than the allotted time period; the longer we negotiate, the more sanctions relief the Iranian regime enjoys without having to make new concessions.
“Any comprehensive agreement should not only stall, but roll back Iran’s illicit nuclear program, and any additional sanctions relief should be contingent on verifiable concessions from the Iranian regime. I urge the administration to consult closely with Congress during this critical time to ensure that our national security interests are protected.”
Toomey, meanwhile, said that it is imperative that Congress not delay in passing the legislation.
“I think American security depends significantly on ending Iranian enrichment capability,” he said.
Any agreement should have congressional approval, making it “more durable,” said Toomey.
“If an agreement is reached, it is going to happen with only 18 months left in this administration,” he said. “Our national security interest in preventing Iran from having nuclear weapons will extend far beyond the remainder of this administration’s term.
“The Iranian people need to know that they are negotiating with the American people and have the broad support of congress, rather than just the president.”
While the president said that diplomacy with Iran will fail if Congress takes legislative action to set additional sanctions, Toomey disagrees.
“If the Iranians are serious about a deal, they wouldn’t walk away from the negotiations over conditional, prospective sanctions that they have the power to avoid and that do no violate the (November 2013 Joint Plan of Action),” said Toomey. “In fact, they would be motivated, not deterred by conditional sanctions.
“If they are serious about reaching an agreement, why aren’t they a little bit concerned about driving us away from the negotiating table?”
Toomey said the Iranians have yet to show they want to reach an agreement.
“Rather than showing good faith in any kind of restraint, instead, Iran has violated the Joint Plan of Action, and they are now rampaging through the Middle East continuing their indirect control of Lebanon — propping up Assaad while he massacres several hundred thousand of his own people; exerting evermore power in Syria and Iraq.
“Congress needs to act.”