Time for the World to Pressure Iran (Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen)

The Iranian regime’s continued refusal to implement the U.N. Security Council requirement that it suspend uranium enrichment, and abide by its international nonproliferation obligations, clearly shows Iran’s intentions with respect to its nuclear program are not peaceful.

We cannot allow this state sponsor of terrorism to continue to manipulate the international community and buy time to attain the capability to produce nuclear weapons.

In response, diplomatic and economic pressure aimed at stopping Iran from acquiring such capabilities must be intensified immediately.  The United Nations Security Council must impose additional sanctions focusing on Iran’s greatest economic vulnerability — its energy sector.  Additionally, responsible nations must undertake immediate bilateral and multilateral actions to deny Iran the financial resources to engage in activities and behavior which threaten global peace and security and which are in clear defiance of UN resolutions and international nonproliferation obligations.

In particular, EU nations, Japan, India, Russia and China, among others, must cease their large-scale investment in Iran’s energy sector.  Furthermore, the Russians and Chinese must unequivocally cease directly facilitating the enhancement of Iran’s conventional and unconventional weapons capabilities.

Rep. Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) is Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.