In the News

Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, delivered the following remarks at today’s press conference with Democratic Leader Pelosi on the President’s decision to withdraw the United States from of the Iran nuclear agreement. Video is available here, courtesy of Blue Virginia.

“I want to make two points. President Trump’s decision to abrogate and withdraw from the Iran agreement, in my opinion constitutes one of the most sordid and reckless acts by a chief executive of this country. Not since the US Senate failed to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and join the League of Nations has there been such a momentous and destructive foreign policy decision that will lead to terrible outcomes. The probability of a nuclear Iran has now risen exponentially just when we had it under control. And if that happens, the Saudis have indicated they will do it too. And now we’re off to an arms race in the most volatile part of the world.

“President Trump, in having us leave this treaty of course has us leave without a parachute; there is no follow-up plan. And I echo what my colleagues said about point number two – what does this mean for North Korea? If you find an agreement that’s working and meeting all of its metrics inadequate because your predecessor signed it and your petulance knows no bounds, even when national security is involved, then here’s your own standard for North Korea: absolute denuclearization, absolutely verifiable. Anything less than that is a failure, Mr. Trump, by your own new standard.”