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Contact Rachel Levin
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rlevin@aipac.org Urge Members of Congress to Cosponsor Resolutions Calling for the Prevention of a Nuclear-Capable Iran
Call members of Congress and urge them to cosponsor resolutions affirming that it is a vital interest of the United States to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability. The resolutions call for all options to remain on the table with the exception of containing a nuclear armed Iran.

The Senate resolution (S. Res. 380) was introduced by Sens. Robert Casey (D-PA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT). The House resolution (H. Res. 568) was introduced by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Ranking Member Howard Berman (D-CA).

These resolutions do not authorize the use of force against Iran, nor do they foreclose negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. Earlier this month, Senators Casey, Graham and Lieberman authored an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal addressing these important points and making the case for why this resolution is necessary. Click here to view the op-ed.

Click here to view S. Res. 380
View Senators who have not yet cosponsored

Click here to view H. Res. 568
View House members who have not yet cosponsored

Senate sample phone script:
"I am calling to ask the Senator to cosponsor S. Res. 380, affirming that it is U.S. policy to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability. A nuclear-armed Iran would pose a threat to the global community and represent an existential threat to Israel, our ally in the region. I strongly urge the Senator to cosponsor this important resolution."

House sample phone script:
"I am calling to ask the Representative to cosponsor H. Res. 568, affirming that it is U.S. policy to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability. A nuclear-armed Iran would pose a threat to the global community and represent an existential threat to Israel, our ally in the region. I strongly urge the Representative to cosponsor this important resolution."

Talking Points

President Obama has stated that it is U.S. policy to prevent, not contain, an Iran with nuclear weapons. The leading republican candidates have also stated that prevention, and not containment, should be U.S. policy.

Iran has nearly achieved a nuclear weapons capability. Tehran continues to defy all international demands that it suspend nuclear enrichment and return to the negotiating table.

The February IAEA report confirming that Iran is speeding up its production of enriched uranium is a stark reminder that the time for prevention is fast running out.

If Iran achieves the status of a “threshold” nuclear state, it will enjoy virtually the same benefits as if it actually possessed nuclear weapons. This status also would embolden Iran’s regional allies like Hizballah and Hamas.

An Iranian nuclear weapons capability would likely spur a nuclear arms race in the region and beyond. Several Arab states have already indicated they would respond by developing such a capability for themselves.

A nuclear-capable Iran also would enjoy increased leverage on oil prices within OPEC.

The United States must focus on prevention while there is still time, and must make it clear that Iran will not be permitted to achieve a nuclear weapons capability.

To achieve that result, all options must be on the table except reliance on containment of a nuclear Iran.

Containment fails as a policy now because it cedes Iran nuclear weapons. And even if it were possible to deter Iran from using nuclear weapons, there would still be nuclear proliferation, greatly enhanced prospects for nuclear terror, expanded Iranian influence over the price of oil, and emboldened activity in the region by Iran and its proxies.

The House and Senate resolutions do not authorize the use of force against Iran, nor do they foreclose negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.