Cantor’s motto on Iran: ‘Distrust but verify’

Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said an agreement announced late Saturday to curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for limited sanctions relief has not eased his concerns about Iran’s enrichment capabilities.

{mosads}“Numerous U.N. Security Council resolutions have called for the full suspension of Iran’s nuclear activities, so it is troubling that this agreement still permits the Iranians to continue enriching,” the House majority leader said in a statement.

“It is critical that distrust but verify be the guiding principle with which we approach this agreement,” he added

Cantor pointed to Iran’s “long history of noncompliance with the U.N. Security Council” as well as Tehran’s “use of secret facilities to pursue its nuclear program.”

“Iran remains the world’s most active state sponsor of terrorism and the most destabilizing force in the Middle East,” Cantor added.

The Virginia Republican said the U.S. must remain vigilant and respond “immediately and severely immediately and severely to any cheating or wrongdoing by Iran.”

“And we must rebuild our alliances in the region and stand firmly with our closest partners against Iranian aggression,” Cantor added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the deal on Sunday, saying the agreement “has made the world a much more dangerous place.”

“Israel is not bound by this agreement,” Netanyahu added. “We will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapons capability.”

Other congressional Republicans reacted to the agreement with skepticism.

“Unless the agreement requires dismantling of the Iranian centrifuges, we really haven’t gained anything,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) tweeted.

And the Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) dismissed the deal as an attempt by the administration to distract the public from the botched rollout of the healthcare reform law.