The head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said that the latest report on Iran’s nuclear program from the International Atomic Energy Agency shows that the administration needs to “stop wavering” in its stand against the Islamic Republic’s activities.
The IAEA report said that Iran has doubled the number of centrifuges kept in an underground facility protected from airstrikes, rapidly increasing the enrichment capacity at the Fordow site.
“Iran is now at the precipice of acquiring nuclear weapons capability. Reports of aggressive efforts to complete an underground nuclear production facility and accelerated uranium enrichment are clear evidence of Iran’s goal of becoming a nuclear weapons state,” said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.).
“The repercussions of a nuclear Tehran will not be contained to the Middle East but spread around the world through the regime’s support for ruthless dictators and violent extremists,” she said. “We have the opportunity to prevent the Iranian regime from gaining a devastating advantage in its crusade to export violence and hatred through the full enforcement of bilateral and multilateral sanctions.”
The subject of Iran’s nuclear program was barely mentioned in the speeches at the Republican National Convention this week. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) will speak before President Obama at next week’s Democratic National Convention, but he’s expected to focus on Iraq, Afghanistan, and the slaying of Osama bin Laden.
“We cannot let the moment pass by doubting the evidence that is right in front of our eyes. Our sanctions measures must be fully enforced, and violators must be punished,” Ros-Lehtinen said. “It is the duty of the administration to stop wavering, stop wasting time with meaningless dialogue, and fully implement and enforce sanctions against this dangerous pariah, no excuses.”
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