FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Amanda Waldron
awaldron@armscontrolcenter.org
202.264.9400
Laicie Heeley
lheeley@armscontrolcenter.org
202.586.1851
Today, Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chris Murphy (D-CT) and nine of their colleagues introduced a resolution in support of progressing negotiations by the U.S. and our P5+1 partners to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran.
Angela Canterbury, Executive Director of Council for a Livable World and Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, released the following statement:
This resolution is a strong declaration of support for diplomacy, and also makes it clear that if negotiations do not work, the Senate is prepared to act. We are pleased to endorse this resolution and applaud these Senators for their efforts to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. We expect our negotiating partners will welcome this sensible measure to strengthen our hand with Iran in diplomatic talks. Meanwhile, other members of Congress have proposed legislation that would derail diplomacy, allowing Iran to pursue nuclear weapons, and hurling us into another war in the Middle East.
Earlier today, the Council and Center sent a letter to the Senate opposing the draft “Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act of 2015” proposed by Senators Menendez (D-NJ) and Kirk (R-IL) and any other legislation that might undermine diplomacy.
On January 21, the Washington Post published an op-ed by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, in which the ministers urge “Maintaining pressure on Iran through our existing sanctions is essential. But introducing new hurdles at this critical stage of the negotiations, including through additional nuclear-related sanctions legislation on Iran, would jeopardize our efforts at a critical juncture.”
“Given the extraordinary stakes, now is the time for the U.S. Congress to support the efforts of President Obama and our allies to achieve a negotiated final agreement that ends the Iranian march toward a nuclear bomb,” states the letter, signed by Executive Director Angela Canterbury.
Angela Canterbury, Laicie Heeley and other members of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation are available for further comment and broadcast bookings by contacting Amanda Waldron at 202.546.0795 X 2115 or awaldron@armscontrolcenter.org.
####The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation is a Washington-based non-profit think tank working to reduce the number of nuclear weapons stockpiled across the globe, increase international non-proliferation programs targeted at preventing the further proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear terrorism, redirect U.S. military spending to address 21st century security threats and halt the proliferation of biological and chemical weapons. www.ArmsControlCenter.org
