Supporting Sanctions on Iran

Floor Speech

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Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise in strong support of S. Res. 65, a resolution which sends Israel, Iran, and the region a clear message: We stand with our friends in Israel as they face the looming threat of a nuclear-capable Iran.

I thank Senators GRAHAM and MENENDEZ for submitting this critical resolution, which comes as we face a dangerous crossroads in the Middle East.

Iran's quest for a nuclear weapons capability is moving closer and closer to fruition. Talks with Iran have yet to achieve the progress necessary to restrain Iran's nuclear ambitions and to compel Iran to comply with the standards and norms expected of members of the world community. And while sanctions are having a significant impact on Iran's economy, they have not yet caused Iran's leaders to alter their course.

Just yesterday, Iran's leaders again showed their uncompromising and hard-line stance by excluding viable opposition candidates from their upcoming Presidential election.

There has been a special bond of friendship and cooperation between the U.S. and the State of Israel for over 60 years, which continues to retain broad bipartisan support. We should continue to support and expand the close military, intelligence, and security cooperation between our two countries.

In this context, S. Res. 65 makes three vital points.

First, it reiterates that it is U.S. policy to prevent Iran from achieving a nuclear weapons capability.

Second, it calls for the full implementation of United States and international sanctions on Iran and urges the President to continue and strengthen enforcement of sanctions legislation, including closing loopholes that allow the regime to skirt sanctions.

And third, it makes clear the U.S. should stand in support of Israel in case Israel is compelled to take military action in self-defense, in accordance with U.S. law and Congress's constitutional responsibility to authorize the use of force.

Now is not the time for America to project any ambiguity concerning Iran's nuclear program.

While we hope that sanctions will ultimately prove successful in persuading the regime to halt its nuclear ambitions, we must at the same time make clear to Tehran that we will stand with Israel. Any other message will simply encourage the mullahs to believe that Iran can pursue its nuclear ambitions with impunity--and may facilitate precisely the sort of crisis that we all hope to avoid.

I urge my colleagues to stand with Israel by voting in favor of S. Res. 65.

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