More money for bombs, not butter, says Foreign Affairs Chair

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued this statement as U.S. negotiators work toward a final Iran nuclear agreement which would provide Tehran with tens of billions in sanctions relief.  Earlier this week, a senior U.S. official said that Iran would not use billions in sanctions to back its nefarious activities. “It is our assessment … that they are not going to spend the vast majority of the money on guns, most of it will go to butter,” said the U.S. official.

Chairman Royce said: “Obama Administration officials have talked themselves into the delusion that the regime in Tehran will use a sanctions relief jackpot to help its people.  But Iran’s Supreme Leader isn’t looking to cut this deal because he cares about ordinary Iranians.  He’s making it so that he can consolidate power at home, dominate the region and gain acceptance of Iran’s nuclear program, paving the path to a nuclear weapon.  Helping Iranians doesn’t even make the list.  The Obama Administration’s fundamental misread of the Iranian regime is part of what makes this potential agreement so dangerous to our national security.”                 

As the Obama Administration pushes for a final agreement with Iran, reports indicate that the deal could bring as much as $50 billion to Tehran in immediate relief, and another $100 billion could come over the next year.

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