“ The United States cannot allow a nuclear Iran. A nuclear armed Iran would be emboldened to act aggressively in the region, threatening U.S. allies and interests and potentially sparking a deadly arms race. Such a scenario is unacceptable. However, military force should only be a last resort and I believe our unprecedented political and economic pressure is working.

Since 2007, I’ve been a part of the effort to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. I serve on the Foreign Affairs Committee and helped pass major sanctions aimed at Iran’s energy and financial sectors, reducing their ability to sell oil, their major source of income. These sanctions have been a demonstration of ‘smart power,’ using the full range of tools at our disposal and exercising our influence abroad. A sanction doesn’t discount the use of military force, but it recognizes that we have better and more cost effective alternatives. To date, the Iranian currency has plunged 40-50%, and industries controlled by the Revolutionary Guards are struggling to find buyers and investors. Iran’s top oil buyers - Turkey, China, India and the European Union - have stopped or significantly reduced their oil purchases.

The Bush Administration, with a friendly Republican Congress, didn’t enforce a single sanction against Iran’s nuclear program. Contrast that with the past three years, during which time Congress and the Obama Administration have worked together to enact crippling new sanctions against Iran. I’m proud to be fully engaged in Iran sanctions legislation and diplomatic efforts to convince other countries to stop doing business with Iran. We’ve been successful so far in bringing unprecedented levels of political and economic pressure to bear on Iran, and I remain hopeful that these efforts will keep Iran's nuclear ambitions in check.
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“ The sanctions in Iran are working and they should be allowed to continue to work. Military action should always be the last option. The United States should work to increase the number of countries that are willing to participate in the sanctions against Iran. ”