Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) said Thursday that he is “very concerned” that Iran could develop a nuclear weapon before the Senate could pass more sanctions if President Obama’s negotiations fail.
“If we don’t have a deal, I don’t think we’ll have the time to pass sanctions legislation before Iran could develop a nuclear weapon,” Menendez said.
Menendez is one of 59 co-sponsors to a bill that would place new sanctions on Iran if it reneges on the interim nuclear deal or fails to reach a final deal that meets the Senate’s demands.
Menendez said the United States needs an “insurance policy” such as his legislation.
“I am very concerned,” Menendez said on the Senate floor. “The real question is whether [the interim agreement] is a good enough deal.”
 “Any final deal must require Iran to dismantle large portions of its illicit nuclear program,” Menendez said.
“We need a policy that guarantees Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons capability, period,” Menendez said. “Iran is simply agreeing to lock the door on their nuclear options. … Once negotiations are over, they can simply unlock the door — sounds a lot like North Korea.”
Menendez said he was upset that the action plan agreed to only requires Iran to “take steps” to dismantle reactors, rather than actually dismantling them before sanctions are lifted.