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Explore our coverage of government and politics.

Congressman Welch Believes Iran Nuclear Vote Is One Of The Most Important Of His Career

Toby Talbot
/
AP/file
Congressman Peter Welch has been working to gain support for the upcoming vote on a nuclear agreement with Iran, which he believes is the best way to keep nuclear weaponry out of Iran's hands.

Congressman Peter Welch says the upcoming vote on a nuclear agreement with Iran is one of the most important votes of his ten-year career in the U.S. House.

Welch says he supports the proposal because he believes it's the best way to ensure that Iran never develops a nuclear weapon.

Under the deal,Iran would agree to reduce its nuclear capabilities and allow international inspectors into the country to monitor its nuclear program. In return, economic sanctions would be lifted and a ban on the sale of military weapons could be dropped over a period of time.

Congressman Peter Welch says the impact of this vote will be felt for years to come.

"It's definitely one of the most important. We're getting a chance to vote for keeping a nuclear weapon out of the hands of a dangerous state – Iran. The goal of the agreement is something we all share – a non-nuclear Iran," Welch said.

Welch argues that rejecting the president's plan will make it more likely that Iran will develop a nuclear weapon in the future.

"It's definitely one of the most important (votes). We're getting a chance to vote for keeping a nuclear weapon out of the hands of a dangerous state – Iran. The goal of the agreement is something we all share – a non-nuclear Iran." Congressman Peter Welch

"If Congress repudiated this agreement that our allies negotiated with us to achieve, the likelihood is that they would not participate in sanctions any longer and Iran would have no restraint on its ability to pursue a nuclear program," he said.

Welch says he's confident that U.S. military surveillance in the region will be able to detect if Iran is trying to break any of the terms of the agreement.

"It's not perfect but it's solid and I think verifiable to the extent that we'd have plenty of notice if they're moving towards a nuclear weapon," Welch said.

"The United States is not constrained from using any option at all including the military option to prevent that decision."

A majority of members in both the House and the Senate oppose the President's plan. But the agreement has enough support in the Senate to sustain a presidential veto.

Bob Kinzel has been covering the Vermont Statehouse since 1981 — longer than any continuously serving member of the Legislature. With his wealth of institutional knowledge, he answers your questions on our series, "Ask Bob."
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