Heinrich's Reaction To Israeli Prime Minister’s Speech

WASHIGNTON D.C. - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) made the following statement on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to a joint meeting of Congress today:

"We all share the primary goal of preventing a nuclear-armed Iran.  That is in the best interest of the United States, Israel, and the global community.  Where I differ from Prime Minister Netanyahu is how best to actually accomplish that.  If we abandon negotiations due to unrealistic expectations, then we will undoubtedly lose IAEA inspections.  That would encourage Iran to resume development and would result in a very high likelihood of direct military conflict. 

"I will view any plan from the perspective of whether it serves the security interests of the American people and our allies.  To pass that test we must negotiate an agreement that rolls back Iran’s nuclear materials stockpile to peaceful levels and makes intrusive inspections a long-term certainty.  Only then can we prevent a nuclear-armed Iran and avoid an armed conflict that would likely cost our nation dearly in blood and treasure."