Diplomacy

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Rep. Sherman, High-Ranking Democrat, Comes Out Against Iran Nuclear Deal

by TheTower.org Staff |

Representative Brad Sherman (D – Calif.), the second highest ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said that he will vote against the nuclear agreement with Iran, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), The Hill reported Friday.

“A strong Congressional vote against the Agreement is the best way to make it clear that the Agreement is not binding on Congress, the American people or future administrations,” said Sherman, the second-highest ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on Friday. …

Sherman said in a statement that for 19 years he has focused on preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and has been briefed at every stage of the negotiations.

He also said he stayed in Washington after the House went on recess to study the agreement, met one-on-one with President Obama “at length,” and talked with other government officials.

Sherman’s announced opposition to the JCPOA comes one day after Sen. Chuck Schumer (D – N.Y.), in line to become the Senate’s next Democratic leader following the 2016 election, and Rep. Eliot Engel (D – N.Y.), the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, came out against the deal.

Last week, Sherman expressed that the flaws in the nuclear agreement would necessitate a renegotiation of its terms.

The Hill reported that Sherman called the JCPOA “the Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” referring to his press release critiquing the deal after it was announced. The “Bad” portions of the JCPOA include the immediate sanctions relief Iran would receive, which would enable it to “fund graft and corruption of its own leaders … to kill Sunni Muslims,” and “to support groups that kill Americans and Israelis.” The “Ugly” refers to the sunset provisions of the deal, which would allow Tehran to increase the quality and quantity of its centrifuges and, according to President Obama, would reduce its break-out time “almost down to zero.”

On Tuesday, three high-ranking Democrats in the House of Representatives – Steve Israel (D – N.Y.), Nita Lowey (D – N.Y.), and Ted Deutch (D – Fla.) – all announced their opposition to the nuclear agreement. Earlier, House Democrats Juan Vargas (D – Calif.), Grace Meng (D – N.Y.), Albio Sires (D – N.J.), and Kathleen Rice (D – N.Y.) went on record against the deal.

[Photo: Congressman Brad Sherman / YouTube ]

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