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Texas politicians react to Iran nuclear deal

July 14, 2015

The United States and other world powers reached a historic agreement with Iran on Tuesday that calls for limits on Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for scaling back economic sanctions.

While President Barack Obama said that the landmark deal "stopped the spread of nuclear weapons" in the region, Texas Republican leaders expressed their concerns about the agreement.

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) released a statement calling it "a terrible deal" and "a fundamental betrayal of the security of the United States." He also backed Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's calling the deal "a bad mistake of historic proportion."

Cruz said in part, "Today, the international community led by the United States has agreed to not only legitimize and perpetuate the Iranian nuclear program, but also to further arm and enrich the brutal theocratic regime that has oppressed the Iranian people for more than thirty years – a regime that is wrongfully holding United States citizens captive, that is sponsoring radical Islamic terrorism across the globe, and that regularly promotes the destruction of both Israel and America throughout its streets."

Congress has 60 days to review the agreement and could issue a resolution of approval. USA Today reports that many Congressional leaders remain skeptical of the deal and question whether Iran will honor its commitments. Cruz called upon American citizens to express their disapproval to their elected leaders.

Congressman Roger Williams (R-Texas) expressed a similar sentiment in his statement, saying President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry "traded the safety of America, Israel and the world for an attempt to save an already tarnished foreign policy legacy."

"Never in my life would I have pictured the United States sitting at a negotiating table with a country that our own State Department labels a state sponsor of terrorism," Williams said.

Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), also chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, called the agreement "weak and dangerous" and Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) said it is an "unacceptable risk." would I have pictured the United States sitting at a negotiating table with a country that our own State Department labels a state sponsor of terrorism," Williams said.

Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) released a statement saying in part, "While the Obama Administration might think any deal is better than no deal, allowing Iran a clear path to develop nuclear weapons would sacrifice sound policy for a short-sighted political victory for the president."

Democratic Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) considered the deal a success, saying in a statement, "Negotiations have already made our families safer. While demanding thorough scrutiny, this agreement appears to mark genuine progress for all who believe that peace will make us more secure than war with Iran."

Issues:Military