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The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Peace Action
Contact:

Paul Kawika Martin, Peace Action, 951-217-7285 cell, pmartin@peace-action.org

Peace Action Hails 150 Reps Letter to Obama Supporting Iran Diplomacy

In reaction to the letter organized by Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and David Price (D-NC) praising the Obama administration's diplomacy work with Iran on its nuclear program, Peace Action, the largest peace group in the U.S. released the following statement by its political and policy director, Paul Kawika Martin who has worked on the Iran issue for over eight years and had the rare opportunity to spend time in the country:

WASHINGTON

In reaction to the letter organized by Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and David Price (D-NC) praising the Obama administration's diplomacy work with Iran on its nuclear program, Peace Action, the largest peace group in the U.S. released the following statement by its political and policy director, Paul Kawika Martin who has worked on the Iran issue for over eight years and had the rare opportunity to spend time in the country:

This House letter to the President shows the overwhelming support in Congress for diplomacy with Iran and to finalize an agreement that verifiably thwarts Iran from building a crude nuclear weapon. Most in Congress realize there are no better options than reaching a strong accord with Iran on its nuclear program.

Clearly Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and David Price (D-NC) and the other 147 signers of the letter understand that successful diplomacy with Iran on its nuclear program will make Americans safer.

Now the Senate should take some advice from the House and ditch the unhelpful Corker bill and wait until a final agreement is reached before taking legislative action.

Though 150 signatures are significant by representing over a third in the House, many in Congress want to see a final agreement before making their views known. Once a strong final accord is reached with Iran, support in Congress will grow. A vote to approve or disapprove the agreement will likely be close but nowhere near enough to override an Obama veto. There are likely a handful of Republicans that would join those on this letter by Democrats.

Even in this more conservative House, this is the largest public support of diplomacy with Iran to date. It shows the importance of supporting the administration's efforts to reach a final deal with Iran on its nuclear program.

Peace Action affiliates across the nation generated calls, letters and emails to Representatives urging them to sign on to the letter and will continue to pressure Congress until a final agreement is reached and implemented.

Peace Action is the United States' largest peace and disarmament organization with over 100,000 members and nearly 100 chapters in 34 states, works to achieve the abolition of nuclear weapons, promote government spending priorities that support human needs and encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights.