by WorldTribune Staff, July 12, 2016
The Obama administration is ignoring “the sheer weight of evidence” that Iran is pursuing nuclear-related materials in a clear violation of the nuclear accord, Republican lawmakers said.
The officials cited the administration’s response to a report that half of Germany’s state governments reported in their 2015 intelligence documents attempts by Teheran to secure nuclear-related materials.
Sources have witnessed “extensive Iranian attempts” to procure illicit materials, “especially goods that can be used in the field of nuclear technology,” according to a report by The Jerusalem Post.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said intelligence shows “Iran continued unabated to develop its rocket program in conflict with the relevant provisions of the UN Security Council,” particularly one Security Council resolution that bars Iran from pursuing ballistic missile technology.
The Obama administration, which declined to comment on the intelligence, told the Washington Free Beacon that Iran is in compliance with the nuclear accord.
“We believe that Iran is continuing to meet its [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] commitments,” a State Department official authorized only to speak on background told the Free Beacon.
The official said the administration “would refer you to German authorities for any comment about reports attributed to them.”
“Iran isn’t upholding its side of the bargain,” House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, California Republican, told the Free Beacon. “From illicit procurement for its nuclear program to testing ballistic missiles, Iran is showing that it had no intention of ever following international agreements, even ones that granted them enormous concessions.”
“The administration’s decision to continue implementing the deal and ignore Iran’s actions isn’t just delusional, it’s dangerous,” he added. “Iran must be stopped, which is why we need the sanctions legislation we are voting on this week.”
Rep. Mike Pompeo, Kansas Republican, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said Iran’s behavior indicates that it is not abiding by the nuclear deal.
“The latest German intelligence report on Iran’s efforts to secure nuclear and missile technology and material is extremely troubling,” Pompeo said. “While the Obama administration deletes public videos and alters transcripts related to the nuclear deal, at least our allies are speaking out on the threat from Iran’s nuclear program.”
The German state of Baden-Württemberg said in its intelligence report in connection with the development of “nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs” that “Iran is not, according to current knowledge, in a position to produce certain construction material, for example, gas ultracentrifgues. The country must procure essential parts and components from its allies or in the West. In addition to vacuum technology, there is special interest in machine tools, high speed cameras, and climate test control chambers.”
In response to the report on Teheran’s proliferation activities, Israel’s ambassador to Germany, Yakov Hadas-Handelsman, told the Berlin daily Tagesspiegel: “With a view to the nuclear deal with Iran, we see, once again, that our suspicion was confirmed, which is also shared by the German side: It is not enough to trust the regime in Teheran.”
Obama downplays report on Iran’s pursuit of nuclear materials in Germany added by World Tribune on
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