Senators John McCain (R., Ariz.), Marco Rubio (R., Fla.), Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), and Bob Corker (R., Tenn.) all took to the Senate floor Wednesday night to express their concern about the state of U.S. negotiations with Iran over their nuclear program, and to argue that any proposed deal should be brought before Congress.
"Any final agreement of a matter of this consequence should be reviewed by this body, should come before Congress, and should have the ability of Congress to provide oversight over it. In the absence of that I believe unfortunately leaves us vulnerable not just to a terrible deal but to a dangerous one that could potentially endanger the future of our allies and even of our own country," said Rubio.
Rubio suggested that Iran has largely gained what they were hoping for in these negotiations, listing off goals that Iran has achieved: "They want to be able to retain -- or achieve an internationally recognized right to enrich. Check. They want the capability to enrich and reprocess in the future and keep as much of that in place as possible. They've already gotten that--check. They want to continue to develop their long-range rockets and missile capabilities so that one day they can be in that position where, when we negotiate with them in the future on anything else, they're untouchable because they can launch a nuclear attack against the United States, and certainly against our allies. They continue to do that. Check."
McCain warned against a nuclear Iran, saying, "Shouldn't we understand better, shouldn't the American people and the world understand better, what we're dealing with here, a country with leaders who are dedicated to the extinction of everything we stand for and believe in? So, therefore, wouldn't that impact our calculations as to their sincerity about a nuclear weapons program?"
"No nation on earth uses terrorism as a form of statecraft the way that they do," Rubio agreed. "They use terrorism the way we use, you know, our military forces when necessary."
Corker and Graham also urged that the matter be brought before Congress.
"I can't think of anything more serious we will vote on, other than going to war," said Graham.