Scalise hosts Louisiana forum on Iran nuclear deal’s drawbacks

U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) hosted a town-hall meeting on Wednesday in Metairie, Louisiana, to discuss the cost-benefit analysis of the Iran nuclear agreement.

Joining Scalise at the meeting was Michael Rubin, an American Enterprise Institute scholar and former Pentagon official, who specializes in Middle East, Turkey, Iran and diplomacy research.

“Iran must not have the capability to develop a nuclear weapon, yet if Iran fully complies with all the terms of President Obama’s nuclear agreement, they will have the ability to develop a nuclear weapon at the end of the agreement,” Scalise said. “This dangerous deal with Iran will weaken America’s national security, and there is a growing bipartisan consensus across the country to reject it.”

The troubling deal would also give Iran more than $100 billion in sanctions relief that will allow the regime to increase its support of global terrorism, Scalise said.

“Additionally, the deal rolls back the embargo on weapons and ballistic missiles, not to mention the secret side deals that allow Iran to perform their own inspections,” Scalise said. “These are just a few of the deep concerns I have with this deal.”

Scalise has represented Louisiana’s First District in the House since 2008. Born in New Orleans in 1965, Scalise served for four months in the Louisiana State Senate and 12 years in the Louisiana House. Scalise was educated at Louisiana State University and serves on the  Energy and Commerce Committee.