Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) called for the passage of the Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Human Rights Act of 2012 (S. 2101), highlighting the dangers that Iran’s nuclear program would pose to the United States and Israel and warning that Iran may use negotiations with the West as a stalling tactic.

In an April 17 speech on the Senate floor, the senator spoke of the rapid progress that Iran has recently made in achieving a nuclear weapons capability, noting that a nuclear Iran could spark a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, increase its support of terrorism, exert more influence over world oil markets, and threaten U.S. troops in the region.

“While some would have us believe Iran is Israel's problem, we should not be fooled,” said Moran. “Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons threatens all nations that care about global peace and stability. We cannot leave Israel to deal with this crisis alone. American leadership is needed now more than ever to stop Iran. We can begin by passing the Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Human Rights Act.”

“This legislation,” he added, “which came through the Banking Committee, on which I serve, earlier this year strengthens and expands existing sanctions and for the first time makes it official U.S. policy to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. The administration and President Obama must also fully enforce U.S. law and penalize those who violate U.S. sanctions.”