A Nuclear Iran is a Threat to the World

Statement

Last week, the United Nations General Assembly began its general debate in New York. On Thursday, September 27, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a very decisive and powerful speech outlining why Iran cannot be permitted to get a nuclear bomb. Though some critics remain hyper-focused on whether Israel will or won't attack Iran, in some cases even wrongly characterizing Israel--not Iran--as the problem, it is clear that it's the Iranian regime that gravely threatens world peace.

To echo the Prime Minister's dire warning, even without nuclear weapons, Iran is very dangerous. As I've stated before, Iran is on the U.S. State Department's official list of terror-sponsoring governments, and has worked with terrorist groups to wreak havoc and destabilize the Middle East. In Iraq, Iran gave explosives and other weapons to militants who then killed American troops. Iran has threatened to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant amount of the world's oil and commerce flows. And Iran's leaders have repeatedly threatened to wipe Israel--a country roughly the size of the Ninth District--off the map.

As the United States and Israel -- the oldest democracy in the Middle East -- work to ensure that Iran's dangerous nuclear ambitions do not come to fruition, both countries must stand together. Again, I hope that international diplomacy and economic sanctions will disrupt Iran's quest for nuclear weapons-making capability, but it's far from certain. All options, including the potential use of military force, must be on the table. Iran cannot be allowed to get the capability to make nuclear weapons.

As always, if you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to contact my office. You can call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671. To reach my office via email, please visit my website at www.morgangriffith.house.gov.

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