#NoNuclearIran

 
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, announced that on Tuesday, July 29, the Committee will convene a hearing to examine the Obama Administration’s announcement of a four-month extension in the ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and world powers.  On Friday, parties to the negotiations announced that, despite a July 20 deadline for a final agreement, they had failed to reach a final deal and would continue negotiating, with a new deadline in November.  At the hearing, State Department and Treasury Department officials, including the top U.S. negotiator for the Iran talks, will testify.
 
The hearing, entitled “Iran Nuclear Negotiations: From Extension to Final Agreement?” will begin at 2 p.m.
 
In response to the four month extension in the nuclear talks, Chairman Royce said:  “I don’t see an extension of funding to Iran as progress.  It looks like the Iranians won extra time with a good cop-bad cop routine, backing off the Supreme Leader’s absurd claim for 190,000 centrifuges. This tells me Iran, with centrifuges spinning, thinks time is on its side.  Increased economic pressure would strengthen our hand, but the Administration opposes it.  It should welcome congressional efforts to ratchet up the economic pressure on Iran.  Any deal should be graded on its technical merits, not in the hopes of a partnership with Iran on Iraq and other issues, as some have argued.  Iran’s terrorist-backing activities, including illicitly shipping missiles to Hamas, demands even higher standards of verification for any deal.  Everything about Iran’s nuclear program signals ‘nuclear bomb,’ yesterday, today, and I worry tomorrow.”
 
What:
Hearing:  Iran Nuclear Negotiations: From Extension to Final Agreement?
 
When:
2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29
 
Where:
2172 Rayburn House Office Building
 
Witnesses:
 
The Honorable Wendy R. Sherman
Under Secretary for Political Affairs
U.S. Department of State
 
The Honorable David S. Cohen
Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence
U.S. Department of the Treasury                                                    
 
***See foreignaffairs.house.gov for updates.
 
***Coverage note:  All Foreign Affairs Committee proceedings are webcast live at foreignaffairs.house.gov/live-video-feed.
 

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