Say ‘no deal’ to the Iran nuclear agreement

After 20 months of negotiations with Iran, President Obama has again failed the American people and our allies. The new Iran nuclear deal does nothing to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear power or to stop a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Americans expected a multiple-decade deal with extensive inspection and verification measures that would disarm Iran. Instead, we were given a deal that lifts sanctions on Iran, only hits the pause button on their uranium enrichment program for eight years, and includes only limited inspection procedures. On top of that, it does nothing to bring back the four Americans currently being held hostage in Iran. This deal empowers Iran and weakens America, Israel and our allies in the Middle East.

Proponents of the deal make the false claim that the only alternative to this flawed deal is war. They believe that a bad deal is better than no deal. We should never settle for a bad deal. We should continue to push for a good deal – one that makes us and our allies safe. After 15 years, when Iran’s restrictions are fully lifted, they will be able to produce enough fuel for a nuclear bomb within days. Iran’s regional threat will escalate and threaten the United States and our allies.

{mosads}Good agreements are built on trust. However, we simply cannot trust Iran. Since Ayatollah Ali Khamenei became Supreme Leader of Iran in 1989, the country has repeatedly lied about its nuclear weapon program. It is naïve and reckless for the president to believe that decades of deceit will magically turn into transparency and cooperation. The ink was barely dry on the agreement when Khamenei vowed to defy American policies despite the agreement. Iran simply cannot be trusted.

Providing Iran with sanction relief without consequences for violating the agreement is one of the worst components of this deal. Even with economic sanctions in place, Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of terror. Rewarding Iran’s economy by lifting sanctions empowers them to do what they do best – export terrorism. Iran is the region’s patron for most Islamic militants and has repeatedly been linked to numerous anti-West and anti-Israel terrorist attacks as well as aiding Yemen rebels.

Gaining access to an estimated $150 billion currently locked in Iranian accounts held abroad will only enhance Iran’s ability to export nuclear weapons and support terrorism around the world. Israel and the rest of the Middle East will be forced to remain even more vigilant in their fight against the terrorist regimes that plague the region. Ultimately, agreeing to this deal puts the world in a much more dangerous place with millions of lives in jeopardy.

This is simply a bad deal that paves the road for a nuclear Iran, and a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.  America and our allies will not be safe if Iran is allowed to become a nuclear power. Congress must reject this deal. Let’s send a message to President Obama and the free world: Americans will not accept a bad deal.

Olson has represented Texas’ 22^nd Congressional District si9nce 2009. He sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee.