Tester raises new questions to Obama about Iran nuclear agreement
After reading the agreement, Senator has unanswered questions
(U.S. Senate) - Senator Jon Tester wants President Obama to answer his specific questions regarding the details of the Iran nuclear agreement before deciding whether he will support it.
After reading the agreement and discussing the details of the deal with administration officials, Tester today identified his remaining concerns and submitted them in a letter to the President. Beginning July 19, Congress has 60 days to review the agreement that the U.S., China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany and Iran negotiated. Throughout the 60-day review period, Tester also plans to gather input from Montanans and meet with administration officials, international partners and nuclear experts.
"If approved, this agreement will have lasting impacts on the United States and our allies," Tester wrote. "I believe that a good deal must be based on verifying that Iran is living up to stringent international restrictions that prevent it from producing or obtaining a nuclear weapon."
In the letter, Tester asks Obama how Iranian nuclear research and development will be monitored to ensure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon after the first decade of the agreement, how the administration plans to prevent conventional arms and ballistic weapons technologies from flowing to Iran, and what measures will be in place to ensure that monies unfrozen by the lifted sanctions will not be used in military or terrorist activities against the U.S. and its allies.
Tester voted for the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act that gives Congress the authority to review the negotiated deal. As a member of the Banking Committee, he voted to impose sanctions that weakened Iran and brought it to the negotiating table.
Tester's letter to President Obama is available HERE.
The State Department responded to Tester's letter on August 5th.
