Londonderry, N.H. (AP) Apr. 15, 2015 — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Wednesday the emerging nuclear pact with Iran will lead to it having nuclear weapons and to an even more dangerous Middle East. He also said he`d be open to putting U.S. soldiers “into the fight” against the Islamic State group if necessary.
Introducing himself to New Hampshire voters in a format he knows well — a town hall-style meeting — Christie said the world has no reason to trust Iran. He said it takes guts to enter a deal, but also to back away from one— which he urged President Barack Obama to do.
The comments came in response to one of nearly 20 questions the likely 2016 Republican presidential contender answered during a 90-minute town hall event, his first in the early voting state after more than 130 at home.
Christie said he had “grave concerns” about the preliminary deal between the U.S., Iran and five other world powers aimed at curbing Iran`s nuclear ambitions. It would ultimately compel Iran to reduce the number of centrifuges used to enrich uranium and agree to inspections of its nuclear sites, among other things, in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
Christie said the deal would lead the Saudis, Egyptians and Jordanians to pursue nuclear weapons, calling Iran the world`s largest state sponsor of terrorism and a nation that cannot be trusted.
“They have no basis to have earned our trust,” he said.
Asked about how he`d handle the threat posed by Islamic State militants, Christie accused Obama of weak leadership and said the country needs to assure its allies that the U.S. will stand beside them.
“We have to be willing as Americans to say, if need be, we`ll also put soldiers into the fight,” he said. “We have to be willing to say that.” He did not specify in what ways he might support the deployment of U.S. forces on the ground.
Obama has ruled out ground troops for now in Iraq, where a U.S.-led coalition of Western and Arab countries has been launching airstrikes on Islamic State targets since last fall.