Iran International
Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump both failed to halt Iran’s march toward nuclear weapons, Representative Brad Sherman, one of the strongest Democratic voices in the US Congress opposing the Islamic Republic told Iran International.
A House Representative for 28 years and counting - much of that time as a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs committee - Sherman has disagreed with both presidents from both parties on their Iran policies.
An outspoken critic of Iran's Islamic rulers, Sherman champions legislation criticizing their treatment of the Iranian people and tightening sanctions.
The representative for swish Malibu and Bel Air in Los Angeles was one of a small handful of democrats that voted against the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an agreement to limit the Iranian nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.
There had to be a better deal, he said.
“I disagreed with the JCPOA, but then under Trump, there was less intelligence being gathered by the IAEA and no diminution, " Sherman said of the UN nuclear watchdog which inspects Iranian facilities.
"While he put more pressure on the regime, he didn't slow down the nuclear program. And then we see Biden also not slowing down the nuclear program,” Sherman told the Eye for Iran podcast.
The Democratic congressman acknowledged the frustrations of some Iranian- American democrats who voted for Trump in November to apply maximum pressure on Iran, but said the president-elect's tough talk didn’t succeed either.
“I know opponents of the regime tend to like Trump's bravado and rhetorical stance, and certainly he shows more emotion against the regime than Biden does. But neither of them have stopped the centrifuges. Neither of them have stopped the murder of anyone who dares to raise their voice .”
The E3, a diplomatic coalition comprising of Germany, Britain and France released a statement Tuesday, expressing concern over Iran’s increased uranium enrichments, calling on Tehran to reverse its nuclear advancements.
The outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, addressing the Council of Foreign relations on Wednesday, said the clerical establishment may consider a nuclear weapon after setbacks in the region.
Blinken referred to Israel's ability to damage Tehran’s proxies and Iran’s military and defense capabilities in a direct strike in October.
The top US diplomat also said there’s still a chance for the incoming president to negotiate with Iran.
"I think there is the prospect of negotiations," Blinken said at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, "I don't think that a nuclear weapon is inevitable."
But Sherman said the traditional Democratic view of showing restraint in negotiations is a big mistake when it comes to dealing with Iran.
“There are those in the Biden administration who think that by doing a little bit less, by some forbearance, they'll be able to negotiate,” said Sherman “No, this is a regime where if you're going to negotiate, you must do it from strength.”
Tougher Sanctions
To start, Sherman wants tougher sanctions on Iranian exports.
“We have now tougher sanctions on Russian exports than we have on Iran.”
America must redouble their efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear program according to Sherman, who also said the US should fund covert democracy groups fighting to topple the clerical establishment. He declined to elaborate.
“I've certainly supported everything we've done to help Democratic forces, and some of that is classified.”
While Sherman supports Republican President-elect Donald Trump's so-called negotiating through strength, he believes the Iranian system is determined to build a bomb.
“As long as there's an Islamic Republic of Iran, it will be a country seeking nuclear weapons.”
You can watch the full episode of Eye for Iran featuring congressman Brad Sherman on YouTube. Or you can listen on Spotify, Apple, CastBox or Amazon.
