Sen. Cotton Visits Israel, Discusses Security And Iran Deal

The nation of Iran will be able to continue its regional aggression if a deal involving nuclear weapons is approved, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark. said Tuesday morning.

Cotton, who has visited with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon since Monday, was interviewed on the MSNBC show, “Morning Joe” from Tel Aviv.

During the interview, Cotton said meetings with Israel’s top leaders have been productive.

“In my meetings with both the Prime Minister and Defense Minister, we discussed the importance of continued U.S.-Israel cooperation — whatever happens with the vote in the Senate and the House later this month on the Iran deal because this won’t be the end of the story with Iran. They [Iran] will continue their regional aggression,” Cotton said.

“And in the long term, they are going to continue their push for nuclear weapons. So between our two countries we need increased intelligence and coordination and continued military assistance for Israel so they can help us on the front lines of freedom. We need to make it perfectly clear to Iran that the U.S.-Israel alliance is strong and will remain strong in the future.”

Cotton, who has opposed the deal, said strong sanctions against the Iranian regime have worked.

The House last year approved a sanctions bill on Iran with nearly 400 representatives voting yes, Cotton said during the interview.

On Monday, Cotton, who serves on the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence committees, met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

Cotton said the meeting provided a stronger reason in opposing the deal.

“I was honored to spend time with Prime Minister Netanyahu today (Monday). There is no one better to discuss the impact of a nuclear Iran, both in the Middle East and in the world,” Cotton said. “Today’s meeting only reaffirms my opposition to this deal. I will stand with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israel and work with my colleagues in Congress to stop this deal and to ensure that Israel has the means to defend itself against Iran and its terrorist surrogates.”

Cotton also spoke Aug. 21 in Jonesboro about the deal.

During a speech before the NEA Political Animals, Cotton said under the deal Iran would be empowered by $150 billion in assets that were seized as part of the sanctions bill.

A vote on the deal is expected by mid-September.