Iran Agreement is a Setback for Global Peace and Security

“This is not reform. This is incentivizing bad behavior at all costs.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) released the following statement after the Obama Administration announced it reached an agreement with Iran to end economic sanctions.

“Based on what we know already, today’s announced agreement is a significant setback for global peace and security.

“Let’s be clear – this deal creates a path for the world’s most prolific supporter of terrorism to obtain nuclear weapons, and empowers it to increase its support for violent extremists in the region and beyond, while continuing to threaten Israel with annihilation. Over two years of negotiation, the Administration has recklessly compromised away our values and leverage in exchange for Tehran’s continued obstruction and intransigence.

“Given Tehran’s history of nuclear deception and circumvention, we have no reason to believe that Iran will comply, even with the deal’s flawed terms. Throughout the negotiations process, Iran has only increased, not decreased, its destructive influence in the region and beyond – and this deal rewards it with hundreds of billions of dollars of sanctions relief that it will surely use to further these activities. This is not reform. This is incentivizing bad behavior at all costs.

“President Obama’s ‘reset’ with Russia ended in military aggression against Russia’s neighbors and this reset with Iran has already had the same result.

“I will review every detail of this agreement closely, but I cannot support any agreement that threatens the safety of the American people, sells out our allies in the region, and places millions of innocent civilians in the region at risk.”