House Foreign Affairs Committee, Washington, 9 Jan 2012 – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented today on reports that the Iranian regime has begun uranium enrichment at a second facility. Ros-Lehtinen is currently on a Congressional delegation to the Middle East led by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:
“The Iranian threat is entering a new, even more dangerous stage. Together with its threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian regime is escalating its belligerence by preparing to ratchet up its uranium enrichment by opening the Qom facility.
“I am deeply troubled by the sense of complacency that seems to describe the Administration’s view of Iran as undecided about whether to pursue nuclear weapons. The regime is racing to expand its nuclear activities and increase its capabilities. A recent International Atomic Energy Agency report noted that Iran may have engaged in experiments to prepare for the testing of a nuclear explosive device. These actions speak volumes about the regime’s objectives.
“An Iran with a nuclear breakout capability is an Iran with a nuclear weapon. We cannot delude ourselves into thinking we have time to spare. Existing sanctions have already dealt the regime a bad blow, making it harder for Tehran to finance its threatening activities. However, if we have any hope of preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear state, responsible nations must impose immediate, comprehensive, crippling sanctions on the regime. Half-measures, delayed implementation, and platitudes won’t be enough.”
NOTE: H.R. 1905, the Iran Threat Reduction Act, was coauthored by Ros-Lehtinen and U.S. Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), the Ranking Member of the Committee, and was unanimously adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on November 2nd. It updates and replaces previous Iran sanctions laws to ensure that current law vigorously addresses the multiple threats posed by Iran. The bill closes loopholes in energy and financial sanctions and counters the regime’s efforts to evade them. The bill also targets the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps and senior Iranian regime officials.