IAEA Failure in Iran "Should Surprise No One,' Says Ros-Lehtinen

Statement

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented today on the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) announcement that Iran has refused to allow the Agency to visit and inspect suspect facilities. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

"The announcement by the IAEA that its latest attempt to inspect Iran's nuclear facilities has ended in failure should surprise no one. Iran will never open its nuclear facilities to the outside world because the evidence of its nuclear weapons program would be overwhelming.

"The U.S. and other responsible nations have wasted years trying to negotiate with a regime that only wants to buy itself time. Only crippling pressure will yield results.

"The sanctions that the U.S. and our allies have imposed are beginning to bite. Still, I find it inexcusable that the Administration has stopped far short of applying maximum economic pressure on Tehran, which must include sanctioning Chinese energy companies which are still doing business with Iran.

"The House has acted to increase the pressure by passing H.R. 1905, the Iran Threat Reduction Act, but the legislation remains stalled in the Senate. I urge the Senate to take up this measure and send it to the President immediately. And I urge the President to use all of the tools at his disposal to impose the strongest possible sanctions against Tehran. Time has nearly run out."

NOTE: Ros-Lehtinen is the author of H.R. 1905, the Iran Threat Reduction Act. The bill strengthens, updates and replaces previous Iran sanctions laws. The bill closes loopholes in energy and financial sanctions, including by targeting the Central Bank of Iran. The bill also targets the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and senior Iranian regime officials. The bill passed the House by 410-11 on December 14, 2011, but it has not been taken up by the Senate.

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