Supporting Sanctions on Iran

Floor Speech

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Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I support the resolution on Iran that we are voting on today, and I hope it sends a strong message to Iran as it continues to flout the international community in pursuit of a nuclear program that is a significant challenge to our Nation, our allies, and the world.

While a diplomatic arrangement in which Iran rejoins the responsible community of nations remains far and away the preferred outcome, there is a consensus in that a nuclear-armed Iran is not acceptable and that all options--including military options--must remain available to prevent such an outcome.

However, according to a New York Times report today, Iran is pressing ahead with the construction of a research reactor that could offer it another way to produce material for a nuclear weapon should it decide to do so.

If true, this is further evidence that Iran is not interested in a diplomatic solution, but rather in walking up to the line of a nuclear weapon capability to fuel an arms race in the region, increase the risk of proliferation, and challenge the global community.

Over the past 2 years, the National Defense Authorization Act has included sanctions provisions that have ratcheted up the pressure on Iran's ability to facilitate and support its illicit network of nuclear suppliers and has made it more difficult for the government of Iran to conduct business as usual until Iran changes its course. I will continue to support additional unilateral and multilateral sanctions regimes that further increase the pressure on Iran's economy.

I look forward to supporting this resolution today, and I urge my colleagues to support it as well.

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