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Don’t Let Congress Sabotage Diplomacy With Iran

The Obama administration is in the midst of negotiating a peaceful solution to Iran's nuclear program but a bill introduced by Senator Robert Menendez could destroy this historic opportunity.

NationAction

January 17, 2014

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh.)

The Obama administration is in the midst of negotiating a peaceful solution to Iran’s nuclear program but a bill introduced by Senator Robert Menendez could destroy this historic opportunity.

The Nuclear Weapons Free Iran Act would force new sanctions, which could lead to Iran abandoning diplomatic talks. It would also set up unrealistic parameters for a deal and express the sense of Congress that the United States would “stand with Israel” should the country take “military action in legitimate self-defense against Iran’s nuclear weapons program.”

Fifty-nine senators—including sixteen Democrats—have signed on to the bill as co-sponsors. While some supporters have indicated they may wait to give diplomacy a chance, it’s still possible that this potentially disastrous piece of legislation could pass.

TO DO

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has so far refused to bring the Nuclear Weapons Free Iran Act up for a vote. Join The Nation, Daily Kos, Code Pink, USAction and Win Without War in calling on Reid to continue to stand strong against pro-war senators.

TO READ

The Nation’s Bob Dreyfuss breaks down the catastrophic effect this bill would have on the possibility of peace with Iran.

TO WATCH

This week on All In, Chris Hayes took to task the sixteen Democratic senators who co-sponsored the bill, comparing their support to Democrats’ support for the Iraq War in 2003 and imploring them not to drag the country into another conflict.

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