The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) praises Democrat Congresspersons Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) and Lois Frankel (D-FL) for opposing the Iran deal – formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of America (JCPOA). Both Congresspersons issued thoughtful statements that thoroughly described the deal’s severe dangers.
Congressman Lipinski accurately noted that the Iran deal fails to meet the administration’s negotiating goal of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and is likely to lead to a nuclear arms race; surprisingly relieves sanctions on Iran’s access to conventional military weapons and ballistic missile technology, which means that Iran may be able to deliver a nuclear strike against our nation; fails to meet the administration’s goal of requiring, before signing any agreement, Iran to come clean about its past nuclear weapons program and PMDs (possible military dimensions), thereby depriving us of information that is critical to understanding Iran’s future capabilities to hide a nuclear program; is accompanied by secret side deals that leave the U.S. in the dark about Iran’s PMDs; delays inspections; limits our ability to impose appropriate snapback sanctions and exempts pre-existing contracts, thereby lessening the effect of any snapback sanctions; quickly gives Iran $100 to $150 billion in frozen assets plus enables Iran to obtain billions more from its new ability to export oil and other products, much of which will undoubtedly support terrorism and mean more war and more bloodshed; and does more to increase the likelihood of additional conflict than to bring peace.
Congresswoman Frankel eloquently described the agony of the men, women, and children suffering at the hands of Iran’s terrorist regime – and explained that approval of the proposed Iran deal will give Iran billions of dollars of frozen assets and future revenues that “will undoubtedly be available to intensify [Iran’s] support of horrific activity aimed at innocent human beings.”
Congresswoman Frankel depicted the horrors perpetrated by Iran and Iran’s proxies Hezbollah, Hamas and the Assad Syrian regime: the 75% of children of Sderot, Israel who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder in the wake of Hamas shooting thousands of rockets at Israel; Hezbollah’s murder of hundreds of Americans and Israelis; and Syrian president Assad’s responsibility for the deaths of over 250,000 people, displacement of 10 million people who are in desperate circumstances, and mass torture of his own population, using barrel bombs with nails and chlorine, sarin nerve gas, starvation, and rape.
Congresswoman Frankel noted that Iranian-backed Assad’s brutality has become a rallying cry for ISIL recruitment. Congresswoman Frankel aptly explained that the current deal legitimizes Iran’s nuclear program after 15 years, that the “release of sanctions without requiring a stop to terrorist activities is disturbingly counterproductive,” and that proponents of the deal are trading off too much for too little.
Both Congresspersons’ statements are a “must read.” Please click on the links below to read full statements opposing the Iran Deal.
Rep. Daniel Lipinski Statement on Iran Nuclear Agreement
“At the core of my opposition to the JCPOA is its failure to meet many of the Administration’s stated negotiating goals plus the surprise addition of relief from sanctions on Iran’s access to conventional military weapons and ballistic missile technology.”
Rep. Lois Frankel Announces Opposition to Iran Nuclear Agreement
“I do not support the current deal because it legitimizes Iran’s nuclear program after 15 years and gives Iran access to billions of dollars without a commitment to cease its terrorist activity,” Frankel said. “It’s too high a price to pay.”