Daines: Iran Deal Will Not Prevent Iran From Obtaining a Nuclear Weapon

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Steve Daines today took to the Senate floor to blast President Obama’s deal with Iran and underscored the serious security concerns the deal has for Israel, the United States and the world.

Click here to watch Daines’ remarks.

Click here to download Daines’ remarks. 

Daines made the following remarks on the Senate floor this morning:

“If Iran’s ultimate goal is to obtain a nuclear weapon, the deal reached by the Obama administration sets Iran on a course to do so. 

“From the time this deal is agreed to, Iran has ten years to fill their coffers with tens of billions of dollars from newly unsanctioned oil sales and pursue the research and development of nuclear capabilities. 

“As the world’s leader of state sponsored terrorism, it will only be a matter of time before Iran achieves its ultimate goal: and that is obtaining a nuclear weapon. 

“These are bipartisan concerns. This deal will not prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and the American people deserve a better deal. 

“This deal is stacked against transparency.  

“It provides up to a 24-day delay before Iran is forced to comply with inspections of nuclear sites on their military bases. This is a long, long ways from ‘anywhere, any time’ inspections that the American people were promised.  

“Can you imagine if the EPA or the FDA came knocking on a Montana farmer or business owner’s door and said, ‘well, you can’t come and inspect right now but come back in 24 days.’ That is what we have set up right now with the Iranian government through this deal. 

“Through this deal, the American people are being asked to enter into a binding trust agreement with the world’s leading state sponsor of terror. 

“In fact, just yesterday I looked at my Twitter feed and the Supreme Leader of Iran – he is called the Supreme Leader for a reason – Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, and I quote, ‘that you the Israelis, will not see the coming 25 years and god willing, there will not be something named the Zionist regime in the next 25 years.’ Then he went on to reiterate calling America the ‘Great Satan.’ This is whom the United States is making this bad nuclear deal with. 

“It is not a mistake to push for tougher sanctions. The American people deserve a better option. 

“Two nights ago, I had a town hall meeting, calling into a hundred thousand Montana households. Overwhelmingly, by 3 to 1, Montanans oppose this deal. And as we close, let me say this – as I step back and look at the numbers today, it was looking at the United States Senate, it looks like about 58 Senators are opposed to this deal – just 42 supporting it. Those 58 who oppose it are bipartisan. The House numbers are similar in ratios. 

“The point is this – there is bipartisan opposition to this deal, both Democrats and Republicans joining together. The only support is partisan. 

“It is a mistake to not push for a better deal that can be supported by more than just one segment of one political party.” 

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