Part #8: Did You Know Joe Donnelly is a Democrat?
Jul 12, 2018
Democrat Donnelly Supported Obama's Dangerous Iran Nuclear Deal
INDIANAPOLIS - Democrat Joe Donnelly was a loud voice in support of Barack Obama's Iran Nuclear Deal, even as news broke that the deal would empower terrorism in the region and open the doors for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon within the next 10 years.
"For the safety of Americans and the security of the world, it's imperative that Iran never has the resources to produce a nuclear weapon," said Kyle Hupfer, chairman of the Indiana Republican Party. "Barack Obama's dangerous Iran Nuclear Deal -- with Democrat Joe Donnelly helping sell it here at home -- laid the framework for Iran to have an even stronger nuclear program within just 10 years' time. This can never happen, which is why President Donald Trump is taking the United States out of this dangerous agreement, and it's why Democrat Donnelly must admit his serious mistake."
As the Obama administration was negotiating the Iran Nuclear Deal in 2015, Democrat Donnelly was working to sell Obama’s work to Hoosiers:
- “Despite having questions about Iran’s intentions, I am willing to give this agreement the opportunity to succeed.”
-Democrat Joe Donnelly, (Office of Senator Joe Donnelly, 8/19/2015) - “What this does is it ensures Iran can never get a nuclear weapon.”
-Democrat Joe Donnelly (RTV6, 0:15 – 0:50, 8/20/2015) - “And this is a country that obviously we don’t trust, but what we’re going to make sure we do is we verify.”
-Democrat Joe Donnelly (RTV6, 0:50 - 1:20, 8/20/2015)
By giving the Iran Nuclear Deal an “opportunity to succeed,” Democrat Donnelly supported as much as $150 billion in reduced aid for Iran, which former Secretary of State John Kerry said may “end up in the hands of the [Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps] or other entities, some of which are labeled terrorists.” (The New York Times, 8/5/2015) (The Hill, 1/21/2016)
But beyond just helping funnel money to terrorist organizations, a confidential document as part of the deal detailed that Iran planned to expand its uranium enrichment program after the first 10 years of the nuclear deal. By 2027, Iran planned to install centrifuges five times as efficient as the centrifuges they were restricted from using as part of the deal. These new centrifuges could produce uranium at levels to support the core of a nuclear warhead with a turnaround time of six months or less. (Associated Press, 7/19/2016)
Democrat Donnelly’s Dangerous Deal:
$150 Billion Potentially in Terrorist Hands: Experts estimate that sanction relief through the Iran Nuclear Deal could amount to as much as $150 billion in released funds available to Iran. Former Secretary of State John Kerry admitted that some of this said may “end up in the hands of the [Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps] or other entities, some of which are labeled terrorists.” (The New York Times, 8/5/2015) (The Hill, 1/21/2016)
In an interview from the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Kerry conceded the United States can’t prevent these sanctions from finding their way into terrorist hands, saying, “You know, to some degree, I'm not going to sit here and tell you that every component of that can be prevented.” (The Hill, 1/21/2016)
Donnelly Opposed Amendment to Require Iran to Certify It Isn’t Supporting Terrorism: While a serious threat of lifted sanctions going to support terrorism loomed, Democrat Donnelly voted against the Barrasso Amendment to the Iran bill in the Senate, which would have required the president to determine every 90 days whether the government is able to certify that Iran has not directly supported or carried out terrorism against the United States. (Roll Call Vote #168, 4/29/2015)
Iran Planned to Expand Uranium Production in Deal’s 10th Year: After the first 10 years of the nuclear deal, documents show that Iran planned to expand its uranium enrichment program. (Associated Press, 7/19/2016)
Deal Opened Door for Iran to Quickly Make a Nuclear Weapon: The framework of the Iran Nuclear Deal was built to ensure that Iran would need at least 12 months to make enough weapons-grade uranium for at least one weapon. However, experts determined that with the new centrifuges that are five-times more efficient (which could be installed as early as 2027), Iran would be able to produce a nuclear weapon in six months or less. (Associated Press, 7/19/2016)
Iran’s Nuclear Program a “Matter of National Pride”: When asked about the document detailing Iran’s plans to expand its nuclear program 10 years in the deal, Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif called the country’s nuclear program a “matter of national pride. (Associated Press, 7/19/2016)
But beyond just helping funnel money to terrorist organizations, a confidential document as part of the deal detailed that Iran planned to expand its uranium enrichment program after the first 10 years of the nuclear deal. By 2027, Iran planned to install centrifuges five times as efficient as the centrifuges they were restricted from using as part of the deal. These new centrifuges could produce uranium at levels to support the core of a nuclear warhead with a turnaround time of six months or less. (Associated Press, 7/19/2016)
Democrat Donnelly’s Dangerous Deal:
$150 Billion Potentially in Terrorist Hands: Experts estimate that sanction relief through the Iran Nuclear Deal could amount to as much as $150 billion in released funds available to Iran. Former Secretary of State John Kerry admitted that some of this said may “end up in the hands of the [Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps] or other entities, some of which are labeled terrorists.” (The New York Times, 8/5/2015) (The Hill, 1/21/2016)
In an interview from the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Kerry conceded the United States can’t prevent these sanctions from finding their way into terrorist hands, saying, “You know, to some degree, I'm not going to sit here and tell you that every component of that can be prevented.” (The Hill, 1/21/2016)
Donnelly Opposed Amendment to Require Iran to Certify It Isn’t Supporting Terrorism: While a serious threat of lifted sanctions going to support terrorism loomed, Democrat Donnelly voted against the Barrasso Amendment to the Iran bill in the Senate, which would have required the president to determine every 90 days whether the government is able to certify that Iran has not directly supported or carried out terrorism against the United States. (Roll Call Vote #168, 4/29/2015)
Iran Planned to Expand Uranium Production in Deal’s 10th Year: After the first 10 years of the nuclear deal, documents show that Iran planned to expand its uranium enrichment program. (Associated Press, 7/19/2016)
Deal Opened Door for Iran to Quickly Make a Nuclear Weapon: The framework of the Iran Nuclear Deal was built to ensure that Iran would need at least 12 months to make enough weapons-grade uranium for at least one weapon. However, experts determined that with the new centrifuges that are five-times more efficient (which could be installed as early as 2027), Iran would be able to produce a nuclear weapon in six months or less. (Associated Press, 7/19/2016)
Iran’s Nuclear Program a “Matter of National Pride”: When asked about the document detailing Iran’s plans to expand its nuclear program 10 years in the deal, Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif called the country’s nuclear program a “matter of national pride. (Associated Press, 7/19/2016)