Congressman Dan Kildee on the Nuclear Agreement with Iran

Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) issued the following statement today in support of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon:

"After careful review and consultation, I will support the nuclear agreement with Iran. I have ultimately determined it will make the world a safer place and is in the best interest of the U.S., our allies, and the global community. Ultimately, this deal prevents Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. And if Iran cheats, we will know it. "How to deal with the threat that Iran represents is a very difficult question, and there is no perfect answer. Since the agreement was announced, I have studied it in detail, attended classified briefings on key provisions, and met with the President, administration officials, independent experts, and people I represent. Through this process, I have judged the agreement on its merits while asking what other alternatives are available to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. And the fact remains that there is simply no viable alternative to this agreement that stops Iran from getting this dangerous weapon. "Some have suggested that the fate of Amir Hekmati and the other innocent American political prisoners held in Iran be tied to the nuclear deal. However, I do not support this approach. We never want to exchange the freedom of innocent Americans for something that presumably makes the world a less safe place. Amir himself has said that he does not want his release to be traded for such concessions. Simply, he is innocent, has committed no crime, and Iran needs to unilaterally release him. "This diplomatic resolution is better than the alternative and it accomplishes its intended purpose, which is to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. Thus, I will support it when it comes for a vote in Congress."