WASHINGTON — As news of a potentially historic deal with Iran broke, members of Congress and foreign governments alike rushed to react to the news.
Unsurprisingly, tThe statements from that flew out of Capitol the Hill on Tuesday morning largely reflected partisan lines. Republicans condemned the agreement as a danger to American and Israeli security, while Democrats supported President Obama's attempts at diplomacy — although statements from Democrats often included language indicating they will take a hard look at the language before giving it the congressional OK.
Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., said the deal "appears to be an historic capitulation on Iran's nuclear program," while her counterpart on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., slammed the deal in a series of television appearances. (Graham is a GOP presidential candidate as well.)
The committee's chairman, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., cited concerns that Iran already is expanding in other parts of the region and that loosening restrictions will allow the Iranian government to spread its influence unchecked.
"Ultimately, the problem with this agreement is that it is built far too much on hope, on the belief that somehow the Iranian government will fundamentally change in the next several years, such that it can be trusted with a growing arsenal, a huge influx of cash and the infrastructure of a nuclear program," he said in a statement. "This is delusional and dangerous, especially as we see Iran on the offensive in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and elsewhere in the region."
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., meanwhile called for calm until the deal has been fully reviewed.
"First thing is to not tear down this agreement before the ink is even dry, before we even read it," Nelson said noted in a statement, before pledging that Congress will not approve "something that doesn't keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons and doesn't give us the ability to inspect and verify that Iran abides by all the terms."
At the core of the Iran deal fight is a simple question — whether members of Congress believe the deal weakens the security of the US and its allies, or whether they believe increased diplomatic relations with Iran can strengthen global security.
In a statement, US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said he was "pleased" with the agreement, then attempted to provide cover for the Obama administration against charges that it will weaken US national security.
"As we implement this historic agreement, deterrence remains a major component of America's national security," Carter said in the statement.
"The Department of Defense is today, and will always be ready, to defend the United States and our interests. Our military — including tens of thousands of US forces in the Middle East — are full speed ahead maintaining a strong presence in the Gulf. We remain prepared and postured to bolster the security of our friends and allies in the region, including Israel; to defense against aggression; to ensure freedom of navigation in the Gulf; and check Iranian malign influence. We will utilize the military option if necessary."
The language highlighting Israel is not a mistake.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained steadfast against any agreement with Iran, saying today the world is "a much more dangerous place" with the agreement than it was yesterday.
Ministers in his inner security Cabinet voted unanimously Tuesday July 14 to reject the accord; a symbolic and essentially meaningless gesture aimed at domestic consumption.
"What a resounding historic mistake," Netanyahu said after digesting news of the deal.
In his July 14 statement, Netanyahu highlighted the "gamble" the world powers made on a deal that "will rehabilitate the terror regime in Tehran." He spoke of the "hundreds of billions of dollars in cash money" that would allow Iran to finance "terror activities around the world and regional aggression."
But in the dozens of paragraphs devoted to his opposition to the deal, Netanyahu did not mention a single technical or substantive quarrel with the agreement released in Vienna. His statement focused on Iranian terror activities and efforts to "destroy Israel" rather than issues of inspections, advanced centrifuges, quantities of enriched uranium or other substantive issues pertaining to Tehran's nuclear program.
Carter will travel to Israel next week, an administration statement said noted, and will meet with top Israeli officials to assure them of US dedication to protecting Israel's security.
Email: amehta@defensenews.com | brome@defensenews.com
Twitter: @AaronMehta | @OpallRome
Aaron Mehta was deputy editor and senior Pentagon correspondent for Defense News, covering policy, strategy and acquisition at the highest levels of the Defense Department and its international partners.
Opall-Rome is Israel bureau chief for Defense News. She has been covering U.S.-Israel strategic cooperation, Mideast security and missile defense since May 1988. She lives north of Tel Aviv. Visit her website at www.opall-rome.com.
