Why I support the Iran deal

Fourteen years ago a terrible thing happened to our country, to our city, when terrorists attacked us on Sept. 11. Then there were no Republicans, there were no Democrats; there were only Americans who said we have to come together. Now is not the time for us to engage in exchanges that separate us. As we face the decision on how to deal with Iran we must bring our nation together.

Whether we like it or not, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Agreement (JCPOA) is going to be the policy of the United States of America. Before voting on the deal I announced on the House floor that I have decided to support it because it is in the best interest of our great nation. Let me be clear: I think in many ways this is a bad deal. But it is the best we can get. While there are risks if we approve it, rejecting it would be a grave historical mistake.

I do not think any of us can say with any degree of certainty that this agreement is going to hold or that we can contain the dangerous ambitions of the leadership in Iran. What we do know is that the international powers — not just China, Russia, United Kingdom, France, Germany, but many others — truly believe that this is the best possible way to avoid war and prevent a nuclear Iran. 

 I understand Israel’s concerns over this agreement, in which most of the restrictions disappear after 10 or 15 years. But this is what we can do now. We pulled together the powers of the free world and beyond who saw that Iran’s nuclear ambitions are not just a threat to Israel, but to the entire world. 

 The JCPOA has received international support from a broad array of leaders who see it as a critical element of maintaining world peace. I also simply do not see any alternative to the JCPOA that would not raise tensions in the Middle East and around the world while leaving Iran closer to acquiring a nuclear weapon.  The idea of “getting a better deal” is a fantasy. This is the only hand we have to play.  Rejecting the deal will leave us isolated on Iran and many other key world issues, especially any future sanctions, and if necessary, require military action.