Nearly two months after firing off a letter to the Islamic Republic of Iran warning any nuclear deal that isn't approved by Congress will be temporary, Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton is going after Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif directly via Twitter.
My statement on @JZarif's comments on lifting sanctions: http://t.co/qxxzH8NDs1’s-comments-about-lifting-sanctions
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) April 29, 2015Hey @JZarif, I hear you called me out today. If you’re so confident, let’s debate the Constitution. 1/4
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) April 29, 2015Here’s offer: meet in DC, @JZarif, time of your choosing to debate Iran’s record of tyranny, treachery, & terror. 2/4
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) April 29, 2015I understand if you decline @JZarif after all, in your 20s, you hid in US during Iran-Iraq war while peasants & kids were marched to die 3/4
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) April 29, 2015Not badge of courage @JZarif, to hide in US while your country fought war to survive-but shows cowardly character still on display today 4/4
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) April 29, 2015Serious diplomacy, not macho personal smear, is what we need. Congrats on Ur new born. May U and Ur family enjoy him in peace .@SenTomCotton
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) April 30, 2015Cotton's full response:
“President Obama promised sanctions would only be lifted when Iran’s compliance with restrictions on their nuclear program were verified. But earlier today, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif once again contradicted the President’s interpretation saying:
If we have an agreement on the 30th of June, within a few days after that, there will be a resolution before the UN Security Council under Article 41 of Chapter 7 which will be mandatory for all member states whether Senator Cotton likes it or not.
“Sanctions relief isn’t about what I like, but what will keep America safe from a nuclear-armed Iran. But I suspect Foreign Minister Zarif is saying what President Obama will not because the President knows such terms would be unacceptable to both Congress and the American people. The repeated provocative statements made by members of the Iranian leadership demonstrate why Iran cannot be trusted and why the President’s decision to pursue this deal and grant dangerous concessions to Iran was ill-advised from the beginning. These aren’t rhetorical tricks aimed at appealing to hard-liners in Iran; after all, Mr. Zarif was speaking in English in New York. Rather, they foreshadow the dangerous posture Iran will take and has taken repeatedly—including as recently as yesterday with the interception of a U.S.-affiliated cargo ship—if this deal moves forward.
“More, they reaffirm the need for Congress to approve any final deal and to conduct oversight over the Obama Administration’s actions. As we consider the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, I urge my colleagues to ensure we pass legislation strong enough to stop a bad deal in its tracks and protect the American people from a nuclear Iran.”
I'll leave you with this:
I hope @SenTomCotton takes the high road too. Maybe congratulate @jzarif for Iran hitting the 1000 executions mark so quickly under Rouhani.
— Eli Lake (@EliLake) April 30, 2015