Catherine Cortez Masto Statement on the Nuclear Agreement With Iran

Statement

Former Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto released the following statement on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action:

"Over the course of the previous weeks, I have spent countless hours reading through documents, analysis, and differing opinions on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. I have reached out and discussed this agreement with experts who support and oppose the agreement, people of goodwill from both the United States and Israel.

"After an exhaustive review, I have come to the conclusion that the best way to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon is to support this agreement. At this moment in time, Iran is two to three months away from having the capacity to build a nuclear weapon. Under this agreement, the Iran nuclear program will be blocked for at least 15 years.

"Furthermore, this agreement will reduce the total number of Iran's centrifuges by two-thirds, from 19,000 today to 6,104. The agreement will also limit the level of enrichment to 3.67 percent for 15 years, far below weapons grade, which is about 90 percent. The deal will also eliminate Iran's stockpile of dangerous highly enriched uranium, and even limits their low enriched uranium stockpile to under 300 kg, down from a 10,000 kg stockpile today.

"I do have concerns with elements of the deal. But the question comes down to this: What's more likely to prevent a nuclear Iran? Is it sticking with the current course, in which Iran is just months away from having the capacity to build a bomb? Or will blocking Iran's ability to have a bomb for fifteen years make us safer? I choose to prevent Iran from having a nuclear bomb in the foreseeable future and to have inspectors blanket their country for 15 years learning more about their program and future ways to stop it.

"To ensure compliance, this agreement imposes the toughest negotiated inspection program in history. And nothing in this agreement prevents us from taking military action if Iran cheats on the agreement. In fact, I believe that Congress should pass legislation now making it clear that under this President or the next, if Iran makes a break for a nuclear bomb, they will not be met with more sanctions or more talks. If they break this last chance at diplomacy, all options, including the use of military force, will be on the table to stop a nuclear-armed Iran. The United States will never allow a nuclear-armed Iran.

"Looking beyond this agreement, Iran's non-nuclear behavior -- such as supporting Hezbollah, Hamas and Assad in Syria - is unacceptable. That's why sanctions around those activities should and will stay in place.

"We are living in dangerous times. The security of America and our allies, especially Israel, depend on what our leaders do to stop brutal regimes from obtaining the ability to harm us. As someone who has spent her life working to protect the security of Nevadans, I take that responsibility extremely serious. People on both sides of this agreement have the security of America's interest at heart and everyone has the same goal, to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon."

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