U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) joined a growing list of lawmakers urging the Obama administration to consult with Congress before lifting any economic sanctions against Iran.
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and the leading Democrat and Republican in the House Foreign Affairs Committee, chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.) and ranking member Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), are among those on record criticizing recent reports that the White House will not seek congressional approval to suspend sanctions if it can reach an agreement to end Iran’s threat to develop nuclear weapons.
The countries have until Nov. 24 to complete nuclear negotiations.
The New York Times reported that the U.S. Treasury Department determined the president can suspend a majority of the economic sanctions without congressional approval, but they would be temporary. An act of Congress is necessary to permanently stop sanctions.
“A nuclear-armed Iran threatens the stability of the Middle East and the world,” Buchanan said. “By no means should the United States accept any deal that leaves the door open to Iran’s continued pursuit of a nuclear weapon. This is an issue that is simply too important to be left to one man and a stroke of his pen.”
Buchanan also expressed concern about anti-Semitism in the Iranian government, citing the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, referring to Israel as the “rabid dog in the region” and adding “its leaders look like beasts and cannot be trusted.”
“These hate-filled remarks are a disgrace and just another reason why the U.S. should hold the hard line on Iran,” Buchanan said. “We must send a resounding message to the Middle East and the world that anti-Semitism in any form will not be tolerated.”