Rep. Kucinich: Iran Sanctions would not Help Diplomatic Talks

Washington, Oct 13 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), a long time advocate for peace and nuclear abolition, was today the only Member of Congress to speak out against H.R. 1327 - Iran Sanctions Enabling Act of 2009.

“In 1996, Congress passed the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act which sanctioned foreign investment in Iran’s energy sector. There are those who have said it didn’t accomplish much. There are those who are now saying, that if we move forward with sanctions it would undermine the interests of nations, like China and Russia, which the U.S. needs to work with in order to bring Iran into the international community in a way that promotes international security.

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“U.S. policy towards Iran for the last three decades has consisted of pressure, primarily in the form of economic sanctions, threats and isolationism.

“While U.S. economic sanctions have hurt Iran’s economy, U.S. policy over the last thirty years has not created any meaningful change in the behavior of the Iranian government.

“On October 1, there was a change. For the first time in the recent past, high level delegations from Iran, the US and other industrialized nations sat down to diplomatic talks. There was significant progress. Among the steps forward was an agreement by Iran to allow access by the International Atomic Energy Agency to the recently revealed planned enrichment facility.

“Yet, with signs of progress in these highly sensitive talks, we are proposing to punish Iran. We should be doing everything we can to ensure that diplomacy – and President Obama – succeed.

“Sanctions will not help with diplomatic talks or assist us in our efforts to bring Iran into a new position in the world community. The United States cannot be in a position of picking nuclear winners and losers. Ultimately, we need to get every nation involved in nuclear abolition,” said Kucinich

Source: Congressman Dennis Kucinich