SR-104, As Adopted by Senate, October 14, 2015

 

 

            Substitute for Senate Resolution No. 104.

            A resolution to urge the Congress of the United States to reject the U.S.-led nuclear agreement with Iran and press for a new agreement that will prevent all pathways to an Iranian nuclear weapon.

            Whereas, On July 14, 2015, a six-member coalition of nations, including the governments of Great Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany and led by the United States, reached an agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran. This agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, seeks to limit Iran's capacity to refine, store, and use weapons-grade nuclear material and develop nuclear weapons in exchange for international sanctions relief; and

            Whereas, The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly referred to as the Iranian nuclear agreement, is not in the strategic interest of the United States and its allies. With the notable exception of the Arak heavy-water nuclear facility, this agreement leaves in place much of Iran's nuclear infrastructure, including 5,060 centrifuges. Moreover, this deal allows Iran to continue researching and developing advanced centrifuges capable of refining weapons-grade nuclear material for use in intercontinental ballistic missiles that can strike the United States and short-range missiles capable of hitting targets throughout the Middle East. This creates a direct threat to our national security at home and the national security interests of Israel and other allies; and

Whereas, The Iranian nuclear agreement legitimizes Iran's nuclear program and does not definitively block a path to a nuclear weapon. While the agreement restricts the amount of nuclear material Iran may store and allows for international inspections, these provisions will slow—but not halt—the advancement of Iran's weapons program. The inspections also do not meet the "anytime, anywhere" standard needed in this case, but rather uses the "managed access" approach that is insufficient to ensure Iran is not developing or hiding nuclear weaponry and weapon components. Given Iran's history of deceiving the International Atomic Energy Agency and its refusal to recognize its nuclear program's military dimension, the international community will be challenged keeping Iran's nuclear weapons program in line with the agreement. With some of the toughest restrictions ending in ten years, Iran is 15 years from manufacturing a nuclear arsenal, which could sink the Middle East into a nuclear arms race; and

            Whereas, International sanctions relief would allow Iran to further support terrorist organizations. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, if enacted, would unfreeze an estimated $150 billion in assets currently isolated in foreign banks almost immediately. These assets, alongside additional revenue from sanctions relief, could be redirected by the Iranian government to more substantially support terrorist organizations in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, and others. Sanctions relief could also allow more money to support a domestic military build-up that could be used against area nations, like Israel, which Iran has long committed to destroying. This emboldens the autocratic state to continue its conflict with the United States, destabilize the region, and marginalize Iranian moderates; and

            Whereas, The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is not the best agreement for the United States, the Middle East, and the world. The agreement fails to set free imprisoned Michigan resident and former Marine Amir Hekmati and other Americans. It fails to address Iran's human rights situation, a situation that, according to a 2015 State Department report, continues to deteriorate. The agreement does not allow the inspection of Iranian military installations, which are needed to ensure secret research is not conducted and weaponry and components are not hidden; and

Whereas, Israel's support of the Iranian nuclear agreement is crucial to reaching long-term peace. However, the agreement does not have the support necessary to reach that goal. Repeated Israeli public opinion polls have shown a broad consensus, seemingly traversing conventional political divides, against the Iranian nuclear deal; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we to urge the Congress of the United States to reject the U.S.-led nuclear agreement with Iran and press for a new agreement that will prevent all pathways to an Iranian nuclear weapon; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.