Despite special U.S. Envoy for Iran Robert Malley’s assertion that diplomacy was the best option for U.S. national security, Sen. Bob Menendez stated “the facts are the facts. As we meet here on May 25, 2022, Iran is closer than ever to developing a nuclear weapon.”
Malley in testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee speaking about preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, argument that “the military option cannot resolve this issue. The only option here is the diplomatic one” did not appear to change the mind of the North Jersey lawmaker.
Menendez, who chairs the committee, said his thinking has diverged from Malley as Iran is now a “much more dangerous threat and a far less interested party in negotiating” in 2022 when compared to 2015 when when the envoy was part of the Obama Administration that worked on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
A Weakened Deal
“After months of negotiations, this is the Iran we must contend with, not the Iran you hoped would be driven by practical considerations at the bargaining table,” Menendez said.
“A deal under which Iran has far less than a six month breakout time, with sanctions relief in return that will unlock millions of dollars, and no sunset extensions, is definitely not longer and stronger. It is shorter and weaker,” he added.
The hearing was held amid reports from the United Nation’s International Atomic Energy Agency said that, as of earlier this month, Iran has accumulated a stockpile of enriched uranium more than 18 times the limit set out in the nuclear deal signed in 2015.
“Hope is Not a National Security Strategy”
Malley conceded Iran had expanded its nuclear program in recent years, and had increased its disruptive actions in the region. He cited support for proxy militias, development of its ballistic missile program, and attacking U.S. forces in the Middle East.
Menendez cited some of these escalating actions, including former CENTCOM commander General Frank McKenzie’s assertion that Iran was seeking to “overmatch” its ballistic missile program so it could launch more missiles than the U.S. and partners could shoot shoot down.
Additionally, he mentioned Iranian drones loaded with ball bearings and shrapnel that had targeted American facilities.
Further, the Hudson County lawmaker argued today’s Iran was protected and propped up by China and Russia resulting in “knowledge Iran is gaining from these advancements can never be erased, and we continue to wait and hope. But hope is not a national security strategy.”
Attacking the Trump Administration
Menendez offered support to Malley, but argued that then President Donald Trump’s decision to walk away from the JCPOA had changed the tenor of the situation.
“The U.S. having left the agreement, Iran decided it no longer needed to abide by it, and rushed forward with accelerating its enrichment capabilities to the doorstep of nuclear grade uranium. Iran made this decision even though our European allies had say in the deal,” he said.
Menendez noted that while the Biden Administration had worked with allies to return to JCPOA, Iran had spent the time to stockpile nuclear material.
Iran has been about to have nuclear weapons for over 20 years. This whole issue is just a ruse , a pretext for menendez to push through bills that would benefit his defense contractor donors
What a corrupt perfidious loser he is