Rep. Ralp Abraham votes against Iran deal

Saying it would put Iran on a “pathway to obtaining a nuclear weapon in 10 years”, U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham voted against the Iran nuclear deal.
Abraham, R-Alto, represents the 5th Congressional District, which includes Rapides and some other Central Louisiana parishes.
Abraham was among the 269 House members voting Friday to reject the Obama administration’s agreement with Iran, while 162 members voted for approval. A total of 25 Democrats voted against the deal.
 “This dangerous deal puts Iran on a pathway to obtaining a nuclear weapon in 10 years. Iran’s supreme leader has called for Israel to be destroyed while his supporters chanted ‘Death to America.’ This deal puts our national security at risk, and I believe it must be stopped,” Abraham said in a news release.
Abraham also joined a majority of the House in approving legislation to prevent President Barack Obama from lifting sanctions on Iran.
“Iran is the largest state sponsor of terror in the world. Its government is working to acquire more sophisticated weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles that will be used to further the cause of Islamic extremism around the world,” Abraham said.
“No American should die because the American government funded terrorism, but that’s exactly what the result will be if we lift sanctions.”
During a recent visit to Alexandria, Abraham said he knows it will be difficult to get the two-thirds vote needed in each house, especially in the Senate, to override a threatened veto by Obama.
He said keeping sanctions against Iran in place or even making them tougher is the way to get a better deal that would ensure Iran doesn’t get nuclear weapons.
The existing deal provides that if the U.S. wants to inspect an Iranian site suspected of being used to covertly produce nuclear weapons, the process could take up to 24 days before inspectors are allowed in, he said.
“There needs to be 24-hour (notice) and not 24 days,” Abraham said.
Iran could even stall on the 24 days through appeals and “run this out almost three months before someone inspects that site,” allowing time to try to hide nuclear activity, he said.