WASHINGTON, D.C. [05/08/18]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith released the following statement after President Trump announced that the United States will withdraw from the Iran Nuclear Agreement.
“Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon—they are a threat to the region and to U.S. national security interests.
“A withdrawal from the Iran Nuclear Agreement, however, will do nothing to reduce that threat. The Iran deal was never perfect, but I am profoundly concerned that walking away from it with no legitimate basis for doing so is bad for our national security. It heightens the risk of Iran developing a nuclear weapon and heightens the ultimate risk of military conflict.
“This move also sends a message that the U.S. won’t abide by our diplomatic agreements, and it risks serious backlash from the international community. If the President’s actions lead to the deal breaking down among other allies, we run the risk of being held responsible while Iran will be empowered.
“President Trump says at the heart of the Iran deal was a fiction. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I believe there’s always room to improve international relations and strengthen our current agreements—but not when we wholesale abandon the diplomatic structures we already have in place.
“I strongly urge the President to reconsider his decision.”
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