Your activism is working! Last week, we asked you to contact your senators and urge them to oppose new Iran sanctions legislation pending in the Senate. Hundreds of you contacted your senators, and now that same Iran sanctions bill has stalled, in large part, it seems, because it isn’t attracting as much bipartisan support as its backers expected. Last year, activists like you played a critical role in the successful fight against diplomacy-killing sanctions. This year, you are doing it again!
If you have not yet taken action, please do so now. If you’ve already taken action, please do so again. And urge your friends to do the same.
Last night, President Obama made the open-and-shut case against any new Iran sanctions legislation at this time. He said,
“Our diplomacy is at work with respect to Iran, where, for the first time in a decade, we’ve halted the progress of its nuclear program and reduced its stockpile of nuclear material. Between now and this spring, we have a chance to negotiate a comprehensive agreement that prevents a nuclear-armed Iran; secures America and our allies – including Israel; while avoiding yet another Middle East conflict. There are no guarantees that negotiations will succeed, and I keep all options on the table to prevent a nuclear Iran. But new sanctions passed by this Congress, at this moment in time, will all but guarantee that diplomacy fails – alienating America from its allies; and ensuring that Iran starts up its nuclear program again. It doesn’t make sense. That is why I will veto any new sanctions bill that threatens to undo this progress. The American people expect us to only go to war as a last resort, and I intend to stay true to that wisdom.”
Nonetheless, the effort to push ahead with new sanctions in the Senate continues, with a key Senate committee scheduled to consider the new Iran sanctions bill – sponsored by Senators Kirk (R-IL) and Menendez (D-NJ) – next week. Between now and then, pressure will mount on your senators to support this reckless, unnecessary legislation, with backers of Kirk-Menendez – like AIPAC and the Israel Project – insisting that President Obama is wrong about the bill and its potential impact. Do they think they know better than the President and U.S. officials directly engaged in negotiations? Or do they simply not care if talks fall apart and the U.S. is brought closer to war?
Take action now! Tell your senators: “Oppose new Iran sanctions!”
With your help, this anti-diplomacy sanctions effort is already being slowed. Now, take action to help us – and President Obama – stop it in its tracks. We won this battle last year, and we can do it again now.
Thanks for your commitment and activism on this critical issue!