Nuclear Iran Prevention Act of 2013

Floor Speech

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Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

My colleagues come here today proposing this new, intensified legislation on the basis that they would like to stop Iran from having a nuclear weapon. So do we.

Everything that my colleague, Mr. Royce, detailed a moment ago is something that we are concerned about.

But we have a changed circumstance, a changed circumstance that this legislation does not acknowledge, and that is that the Iranian people had a choice between candidates, and they selected the candidate who decided to reject extremism and actually campaign on the basis of moderation. Why not? At least until Mr. Rouhani has a chance to forestall legislation like this and engage in diplomacy to reach the goals that Mr. Royce has identified.

Mr. Rouhani ran on a policy of promise to pursue a path of moderation. He promised to pursue a ``policy of reconciliation and peace.'' Obviously, we don't have rose-colored glasses. We don't know. But why don't we wait and see. Why aren't we at least curious to find out whether or not President Rouhani means that he wants to pursue this course of peace. It is what we want--negotiated settlement. Why are we slapping his hand down when apparently the Iranian people are willing to support a candidate who is willing to extend a hand?

The New York Times agrees. It said:

While sanctions are an important element of American strategy, piling on more at this time and this moment could harm, rather than advance, the chances for a negotiated deal with Iran.

In fact, Secretary of State John Kerry warned that additional sanctions at this moment might undermine diplomatic efforts.

The fact of the matter is, why do we want to strengthen the hand of extremists who will say to Rouhani, See, you thought you could work with them. We were right all along.

I say they're wrong. I say let's accept the olive branch extended by the Iranian people who selected a more moderate candidate.

In fact, I would like to submit this document into the Record. The headline reads:

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Nominee for Foreign Minister, Seen as Olive Branch to United States.

Let me also acknowledge and put into the Record this letter, dated July 19, by 130 Members of Congress on a bipartisan basis to say President Obama pursued negotiations in this window of time when we have a President who won on the basis of extending a hand for negotiation.

We don't have to do this now. We can do this when we come back after at least Mr. Rouhani is inaugurated into the presidency of Iran.

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