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Newhouse Statement on Vote to Oppose Iran Nuclear Deal

September 11, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement after voting to oppose the Administration's nuclear deal with Iran:

"I promised to review the details of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action to consider carefully whether the U.S. and our allies in the region would be safer over the long run with this deal. After briefings from experts, hearing from key Administration officials, and reviewing the text of the deal myself, I concluded that I cannot support a deal that gives Iran a path to a nuclear weapon. Further, there are no assurances that Iran will not cheat on the terms of this deal.

"Ending the economic sanctions that have effectively brought Iran, the world's foremost state sponsor of terrorism, to the negotiating table before Iran demonstrates compliance with provisions of the agreement is just one of many fatal flaws in this deal.

"Removing restrictions on Iran's access to conventional arms and advanced ballistic missile technology does not make Americans safer.

"Failing to require the dismantling of Iran's nuclear infrastructure and allowing the retention of thousands of centrifuges used to produce nuclear fuel do not make Americans safer.

"I cannot ignore continued chants of ‘death to America' led by Iran's leaders. I cannot ignore that Iran's Supreme Leader has called America the ‘Great Satan' and promised that Israel ‘will not see the next 25 years.' Iran's continued imprisonment of four Americans shows the true nature of the adversary we are dealing with.

"This deal would place Iran on track to pursue a nuclear weapon even if it follows the agreement. Considering Iran's stated objectives and untrustworthy track record in past inspections, the security of the American people and our allies demands a better deal that brings us closer to peace without compromising our long-term security."