GOP Presidential Candidates And Israeli Leaders Weigh In On Iran Deal, Not All Democrats Support It

Just yesterday, the P5+1 (United States, United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia, plus Germany) secured a landmark deal with the terrorist-sponsored nation of Iran regarding their use of nuclear activities, which should keep them from obtaining a nuclear weapon. In exchange, Iran will now be less burdened with billions of dollars in crippling economic sanctions, according to BBC News.

Naturally, President Obama and many on the left believe this deal will greatly benefit the U.S. and the world, though some people in Obama’s own party don’t feel that way.

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) said, “We’re basically legitimizing Iran’s nuclear program,” since more than likely, the lifting of an arms embargo would occur, per Fox News. Menendez added, “At the end of the day, the challenge here is that 10 to 12 years from now, does Iran have a pathway towards a full industrial-sized nuclear program and the possibility of breaking out to a weapon? And if so, all you’ve done is delayed the question of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.”

Chris Coons (D-DE) said, “I will only support it if this deal prevents every Iranian pathway to develop a nuclear weapons capability,” while Maryland Democrat Steny Hoyer went as far as to say, “Without verification, this is a useless agreement.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Iran is going to receive a sure path to nuclear weapons. Many of the restrictions that were supposed to prevent it from getting there will be lifted. Iran will get a jackpot, a cash bonanza of hundreds of billions of dollars, which will enable it to continue to pursue its aggression and terror.”

Naftali Bennett, Israel’s Education Minister, warned, “Today a terrorist nuclear superpower is born, and it will go down as one of the darkest days in world history.”

Wisconsin Gov. and 2016 Presidential candidate Scott Walker had this to say, courtesy of the Daily Caller.

“President Obama’s nuclear agreement with Iran will be remembered as one of America’s worst diplomatic failures. The deal allows Tehran to dismantle U.S. and international sanctions without dismantling its illicit nuclear infrastructure—giving Iran’s nuclear weapons capability an American stamp of approval.”

Former Arkansas Gov. and 2016 GOP candidate Mike Huckabee also weighed in.

“Shame on the Obama administration for agreeing to a deal that empowers an evil Iranian regime to carry out its threat to ‘wipe Israel off the map’ and bring ‘death to America.’ John Kerry should have long ago gotten up on his crutches, walked out of the sham talks, and went straight to Jerusalem to stand next to Benjamin Netanyahu and declared that America will stand with Israel and the other sane governments of the Middle East instead of with the terrorist government of Iran.”

Here’s 2016 Republican candidate and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s take.

“I have said from the beginning of this process that I would not support a deal with Iran that allows the mullahs to retain the ability to develop nuclear weapons, threaten Israel, and continue their regional expansionism and support for terrorism. Based on what we know thus far, I believe that this deal undermines our national security.”

President Obama said of the deal, “Today, because America negotiated from a position of strength and principle, we have stopped the spread of nuclear weapons in this region.”

Congressional lawmakers will still have final approval over Iran, but Obama has already stated that he would veto any measure that aims to stop the agreement.

What do you make of the Iran deal?

Will it benefit our country, or are party politics at play? Also, if Israel, one of America’s greatest allies, believes this deal will be detrimental to their well-being, why would the Obama administration go forward with such a plan as Iran daily shouts “Death to America” and repeatedly claims they intend to wipe Israel off the map?

[Photo by Alex Wong / Getty Images]