Congressman Bob Turner (NY-09) released the following statement today encouraging President Obama to support legislation which would increase sanctions against Iran:
“The latest report from the International Atomic Energy Agency makes it clear that Iran is dangerously close to developing a nuclear weapon that would surely be used against one of our allies and could potentially one day reach the United States. Iran has made it blatantly obvious that they have no interest in resolving this issue diplomatically. Therefore, the United States and our allies should take swift, immediate action.
“I encourage President Obama to get behind the two bipartisan bills unanimously approved by the House Foreign Affairs Committee that would strengthen sanctions against Iran- the Iran, North Korea and Syria Nonproliferation Reform and Modernization Act and The Iran Threat Reduction Act, which targets the Iran Central Bank, the funding source for activities under the control of the Ayatollah Khamenei and $50 million over 5 years to Hezbollah. The unanimous approval of these two bills by the Committee, along with the recent bipartisan request from 92 members of the Senate to increase sanctions against the Central Bank of Iran, show that there is support across the board for immediate and decisive action.
“We must address this threat now and take a more aggressive approach against this country that vocally sponsors terrorism against Israel, the United States, and other allies in the region. While sanctions will serve as a starting point, all options should remain on the table. Iran is a very real danger to the United States and our allies. We cannot allow them to obtain a single nuclear weapon, let alone the ability to manufacture them at will.”
Congressman Turner is a cosponsor of the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Reform Modernization Act of 2011 which was introduced by Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. This bi-partisan legislation would amend the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act to expand the range of proliferation sanctions and the activities subject to sanctions.
Additionally, Congressman Turner is a cosponsor of the bipartisan supported Iran Threat Reduction Act of 2011, which was also introduced by Chairman Ros-Lehtinen. This legislation more specifically targets the Iran Central Bank which has been a source of funding for activities under the control of the Ayatollah Khamenei