Sen. Rubio Slams Administration Over Iran Nuclear Deal
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Florida Senator Marco Rubio has heavily criticized the Obama administrations deal with Iran over its nuclear program.
President Barack Obama outlined the terms of the deal during a live news conference Tuesday morning.
Under the deal, worked out between the U.S. and five other world powers, Iran's nuclear program would be frozen for the next 10 years. In exchange, sanctions would be gradually relieved as Iran complies with a multi-step process.
"Today, because America negotiated from a position of strength and principle, we have stopped the spread of nuclear weapons in this region. Because of this deal, the international community will be able to verify that the Islamic Republic of Iran will not develop a nuclear weapon," said President Obama.
Mr. Obama added that provisions of the deal also call for Iran to dispose of its weapons grade uranium.
"Because of this deal, Iran will remove two-thirds of its installed centrifuges -- the machines necessary to produce highly enriched uranium for a bomb -- and store them under constant international supervision. Iran will not use its advanced centrifuges to produce enriched uranium for the next decade. Iran will also get rid of 98 percent of its stockpile of enriched uranium.
To put that in perspective, Iran currently has a stockpile that could produce up to 10 nuclear weapons. Because of this deal, that stockpile will be reduced to a fraction of what would be required for a single weapon. This stockpile limitation will last for 15 years."
The accord not only keeps Iran from producing enough material for a nuclear weapon but also imposes new provisions for inspections of Iranian facilities, including military sites.
President Obama stressed there would be "very real consequences for a violation" of the agreement by Iran. He also warned opponents in the U.S. and Israel that without it there "would be no lasting constraints on Iran's nuclear program."
Rubio said it's a bad deal for the U.S. and threatened that it wouldn't pass in Congress.
"Based on what we know thus far, I believe that this deal undermines our national security. President Obama has consistently negotiated from a position of weakness, giving concession after concession to a regime that has American blood on its hands, holds Americans hostage, and has consistently violated every agreement it ever signed," said the Republic presidential contender in a statement. "I expect that a significant majority in Congress will share my skepticism of this agreement and vote it down."
Congress now has 60 days to review the agreement and President Obama has vowed to veto any legislation that threatens to kill the deal.
