Washington (April 14, 2015) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act.
“I applaud Chairman Corker and Ranking Member Cardin for working together to produce the bipartisan legislation considered today. It provides a balanced framework for Congress to engage in the historic negotiations between Iran, the United States and our allies. The strong U.S. and international sanctions regime is what brought Iran to the negotiating table to begin with, and this legislation ensures that Congress has an appropriate role overseeing any agreement that gets developed.
“Diplomacy remains our best tool to secure a nuclear weapon-free Iran and stability in the Middle East. I continue to support the administration’s efforts to work with our international partners to achieve the strongest deal possible for the security of the United States and our allies, especially Israel.
“A critical element of any successful deal regarding Iran’s nuclear program will be the effectiveness of the International Atomic Energy Agency, or the IAEA. It is essential that we provide the IAEA with the necessary tools and resources it needs if we are going to ask it to maintain the most intrusive and comprehensive nuclear inspections regime possible.
“I recognize that there will be further negotiations between now and a final agreement in June. I will be steadfast in my demands for a robust and verifiable final agreement that has the most invasive inspections possible, the most intensive enforcement provisions possible, and the most aggressive means to remove the technological capability for Iran to make a nuclear weapon.
“I commend Secretary Kerry and Secretary Moniz for their tireless diplomatic efforts during these historic negotiations and over the course of months of intense work developing a framework with our international partners. I look forward to continued discussions with the administration, my Senate colleagues, and outside subject matter experts in the coming weeks and months.”
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