Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus
released the following statement on Secretary Kerry's admission that sanctions relief under the Clinton-Obama Iran deal will benefit terrorists:
“Secretary Kerry admitted what we suspected all along – that the nuclear deal Hillary Clinton spearheaded with Iran is a giant stimulus bill for radical Islamic terrorists. Hillary Clinton should explain why she thinks an agreement that helps arm terrorists is such a diplomatic coup, especially when it makes America and our allies like Israel less safe.
"And given that this agreement never ultimately prevents Iran from obtaining an atomic bomb, Hillary Clinton’s defense of this deal is another reminder of the failed foreign policy she would continue if elected. With Clinton defending this disastrous deal, and Bernie Sanders wanting to normalize relations with Iran, it’s clearer than ever that it will take a Republican president to ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon and that we have a foreign policy that puts the national security interests of the United States and our allies first.”
Today, Secretary Of State John Kerry Conceded That Funds From Iran Sanctions Relief Are Expected To End Up In The Hands Of Terrorists. ANDREW ROSS SORKIN: “Okay, so even if it's the least worst outcome, just to put a fine point on it, do you believe that any of that $55 billion ends up in the hands of terrorists?” JOHN KERRY: “I think that some of it will end up in the hands of the IRGC or other entities, some of which are labeled terrorists. You know, to some degree, I’m not going to sit here and tell you that every component of that could be prevented, but I can tell you this, right now, we are not seeing the early delivery of funds going to that kind of endeavor at this point in time. I’m sure at some point some of it will. But that has never made the difference of what is happening there. Let me give you an example. The Saudis alone spend $80 billion a year on defense. The entire gulf state community spends $130 billion a year on defense. Iran spends $15 billion a year on its military activities. So, it’s so incredibly disproportionate that I believe that working with our gulf state partners, which we are going to do and which we are upgrading, we have the ability to guarantee that they will be secure, that we will stand by them even as we look for this potential of a shift in behavior. (CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” 1/21/16)
