Senators Demand Obama Take Hard Stance with Iran
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Alex Wong/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Talks about resolving Iran’s nuclear situation have continued despite international crises involving Ukraine, Malaysia and Syria.
While members of the so-called P5+1 negotiate with Iran, a group of 83 senators have written a letter to President Obama to urge that the U.S. take a hard stance in whatever final agreement is arrived at.
Led by New Jersey Democrat Bob Menendez, the lawmakers say it must be made clear that Iran “has no inherent right to enrichment” of uranium, a key step in developing nuclear weapons.
The senators say that any permanent deal must also make clear that economic sanctions can’t be lifted until Iran agrees that it will never make atomic bombs, which threaten Israel and the entire stability of the Middle East.
Furthermore, Iran must agree to “long-term and intrusive” inspections to make certain that they don’t develop weapons.
Failure to agree to any of these points, the senators wrote, must result in even tougher economic sanctions, including more curbs on Iranian oil exports, the country’s lifeblood.
Currently, there’s a temporary pact that expires in June in which Iran has scaled back some of its nuclear program in exchange for the easing of some sanctions.
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