Hearing of the House Armed Services Committee - Potential Implications in the Region of the Iran Deal

Hearing

Today, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following opening remarks for the full committee hearing titled "Potential Implications in the Region of the Iran Deal."

"The Committee meets today to consider the potential implications of the Iranian nuclear agreement for the Middle East and the world. Last week, most of us attended a classified session where Administration negotiators explained and argued for approval of the agreement. Today we have the opportunity to hear perspectives from a distinguished panel of experts.

One point on which supporters and opponents of the agreement concur -- this agreement will have wide-ranging, far-reaching consequences. Of course, they differ on whether those consequences will be on balance positive or negative.

It seems to me that the issues of concern can be broken down into three areas:

First are the variety of issues about verification and enforcement. And I would point Members to an in-depth report by the Wall Street Journal that details how Syria has thwarted and defied inspectors who have now concluded that Assad did not give up all of his chemical weapons as promised.

Second is whether even if the inspections go perfectly and Iran stays in full compliance with the letter and spirit of the agreement, it is a good deal. As Secretaries Shultz and Kissinger wrote back in April, negotiations that began as an effort to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear arsenal are ending with an agreement that concedes that very capability, although several years down the road. The Administration argues, of course, that a better agreement was not possible.

Third are the basket of Iran's activities beyond its nuclear program to include long-range missile development, support for terrorism, and instigating regional instability.

Huge stakes, long-lasting consequences and a vote in Congress shortly after we return in September combine to make this a weighty issue for us all."

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