BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS SEND LETTER TO PRESIDENT ON PRINCIPLES FOR ANY NEGOTIATIONS WITH IRAN

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bipartisan group of twelve United States Senators today released a letter to President Obama expressing support for a set of principles that should inform any negotiations that take place with the Iranian regime over its nuclear program and opposing any proposal that would permit Iran to continue enrichment activities . The letter follows reports that Iranian officials have expressed interest in renewing talks with the P-5+1. The letter was led by Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jim Risch (R-ID) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and was also signed by Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Pat Toomey(D-PA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

The Senators wrote "[W]e remain extremely concerned that the Iranian government will seek to buy time or otherwise dilute the focus of our diplomacy through proposals that either suspend or reverse the current momentum of the pressure track in exchange for partial measures by the Iranians that fail to address the totality of their nuclear program. Such tactical maneuverings are a dangerous distraction and should not be tolerated. For instance, we would strongly oppose any proposal that caps or limits sanctions against the Iranian regime in exchange for anything less than full, verifiable, and sustained suspension of all enrichment activities, including both 3 percent and 20 percent enrichment."

The full letter sent to President Obama from the bipartisan group is attached.

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