If there’s one thing Republicans running for president agree on wholeheartedly, it’s that President Obama and John Kerry’s deal with Iran is a huge mistake. Every single one of them understands the basic truth that the current US Administration can’t seem to grasp: Iran’s leaders can’t be trusted.
The candidates didn’t mince words in their responses to last week’s announcement.
Rick Perry, Former Governor of Texas:
“President Obama’s decision to sign a nuclear deal with Iran is one of the most destructive foreign policy decisions in my lifetime. For decades to come, the world will have to deal with the repercussions of this agreement, which will actually make it easier for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.”
Marco Rubio, Florida Senator:
“I have said from the beginning of this process that I would not support a deal with Iran that allows the mullahs to retain the ability to develop nuclear weapons, threaten Israel, and continue their regional expansionism and support for terrorism. Based on what we know thus far, I believe that this deal undermines our national security.”
Scott Walker, Governor of Wisconsin:
“President Obama’s nuclear agreement with Iran will be remembered as one of America’s worst diplomatic failures.”
Jeb Bush, Former Governor of Florida:
“The nuclear agreement announced by the Obama administration today is a dangerous, deeply flawed and short-sighted deal. A comprehensive agreement should require Iran to verifiably abandon — not simply delay — its pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability.”
Rand Paul, Kentucky Senator:
“The proposed agreement with Iran is unacceptable, and I will vote against the agreement. The deal is bad because sanctions relief precedes evidence of compliance, and Iran is left with significant nuclear capacity. It also lifts the ban on selling advanced weapons to Iran. Better to keep the interim agreement in place instead of accepting a bad deal.”
Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana:
“If [Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton] goes along with President Obama’s efforts to appease Iran, it will make our enemies stronger, endanger our ally Israel and trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that will destabilize the region.”
Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Senator:
“This is the most dangerous, irresponsible step I have ever seen in the history of watching the Mideast.”
Mike Huckabee, Former Governor of Arkansas:
“Shame on the Obama administration for agreeing to a deal that empowers an evil Iranian regime to carry out its threat to ‘wipe Israel off the map’ and bring ‘death to America.’ John Kerry should have long ago gotten up on his crutches, walked out of the sham talks, and went straight to Jerusalem to stand next to Benjamin Netanyahu and declared that America will stand with Israel and the other sane governments of the Middle East instead of with the terrorist government of Iran.”
Chris Christie, Governor of New Jersey:
“The deal threatens Israel, it threatens the United States, and it turns 70 years of nuclear policy on its head. I urge Republicans and Democrats in Congress to put aside politics and act in the national interest. Vote to disapprove this deal in numbers that will override the president’s threatened veto.”
Ben Carson, retired neurosurgeon:
“The Iran deal announced today with fanfare and another heaping dose of false hope is almost certain to prove an historic mistake with potentially deadly consequences.”
Donald Trump, businessman:
“I don’t understand the president. He dealt from desperation, and he shouldn’t have been desperate.”
