One of Congress' most prominent foreign policy voices has
expressed alarm that Iran is moving towards becoming a
military nuclear power like its longtime ally North Korea.
In an interview published Friday by the Israeli media outlet
Israel Hayom, South Carolina Sen.
Lindsey Graham said he does not object to Iran having a
nuclear energy program, but is "very concerned" about
Tehran's uranium enrichment efforts becoming a path to
atomic weapons capability.
Fifteen nations with nuclear power programs do not enrich
uranium, Graham said.
That's why I want any deal to come before Congress for our
vote and approval. I fear a North Korea outcome," he added.
The South Carolina Republican was referring to the last
effort to regulate a rogue state's nuclear ambitions – the
case of the communist regime in North Korea.
"Republicans and Democrats both bought into the idea that
you could allow the North Koreans a small enrichment program
and the U.N. would control the outcome," Graham said. "Well,
it didn't work. They broke out. They have nuclear weapons."
In Graham's view, it is a mistake to treat the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict as the central threat to
regional stability. The biggest problem, he said, is the
Iranian nuclear threat.
"The Iranian nuclear ambitions are the biggest threat to the
world in general," he said. "Israel needs to be reassured
that Congress will be there in an appropriate way."
Graham emphasized that House and Senate Republicans who will
be in the majority in the 114th Congress "will be pushing
measures to make sure that the Iranian nuclear negotiations
are handled properly, that sanctions are reimposed if the
Iranians walk away from the table or if they cheat on any
deal."
Graham was scathing in his assessment of President Barack
Obama's performance in addressing an array of issues related
to radical Islam and terrorism.
Obama "approached Iran with an open hand, not a clenched
fist, but I think that his 'leading from behind' model has
not served our national security interests well," Graham
said. "What you see is that after six years, there are more
radical Islamic organizations than there were before 9/11,
holding more territory, more safe havens, more money and
more resources with which to strike the U.S. and our
allies."
Graham also emphasized that Congress will not support
imposing sanctions against Israel over issues such as
settlements, which should be resolved in negotiations with
the Palestinians.
"When it comes to military assistance, economic assistance,
Congress is firmly in Israel's camp. There is absolutely no
support in any segment of American political life to
restrict aid to Israel. There is absolutely no support for
the idea of sanctioning Israel over the settlement issue,"
he said.
"I just want the Israeli people to know that Congress does
have your back," Graham stated.
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