The backlash from Republican presidential hopefuls was swift on Tuesday after President Barack Obama announced a historic deal to rein in Iran’s nuclear program.
The conservative candidates repeatedly condemned the mutual agreement between Iran, China, France, Russia, Britain, the U.S. and Germany that came after nearly two years of negotiations.
South Carolina Sen. Graham (R-SC) likened the deal to declaring “war on Israel,” while former reality star Donald Trump said he could have liberated Americans held captive in Iran in “under two minutes” if he had led the Vienna talks.
TPM complied the list of the reactions from the Republican presidential candidates.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz
“Today, the international community led by the United States has agreed to not only legitimize and perpetuate the Iranian nuclear program, but also to further arm and enrich the brutal theocratic regime that has oppressed the Iranian people for more than thirty years – a regime that is wrongfully holding United States citizens captive, that is sponsoring radical Islamic terrorism across the globe, and that regularly promotes the destruction of both Israel and America throughout its streets.” Full statement here.
Former reality star and real estate mogul Donald Trump
“He dealt from desperation and he shouldn’t have been desperate,” Trump told MSNBC. “First of all, we’re giving them billions of dollars in this deal, which we shouldn’t give them. We should’ve kept the money. Second of all, we have four prisoner over there. We should have said, let the prisoners out. They shouldn’t be over there. One’s in there because he’s a Christian. He’s a pastor. One’s in there, a writer. I mean, they shouldn’t be in prison. So he should have said, we’re not doing anything, let them out. They would have let them out in two minutes, if the right messenger delivered the message.”
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush
“The nuclear agreement announced by the Obama Administration today is a dangerous, deeply flawed, and short sighted deal. A comprehensive agreement should require Iran to verifiably abandon – not simply delay – its pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability. The clerical leaders in Tehran routinely preach “death to America” and “death to Israel” – and through their acts of terror, they mean it. We must take these threats seriously and should not base any agreements on the hope their behavior will moderate over time.” Full statement here.
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry
“President Obama’s decision to sign a nuclear deal with Iran is one of the most destructive foreign policy decisions in my lifetime. For decades to come, the world will have to deal with the repercussions of this agreement, which will actually make it easier for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.
“And Secretary Clinton, who played a significant role in initiating these negotiations with Iran, will have to justify to the American people why she supports allowing a known state sponsor of terrorism to move toward obtaining a nuclear weapon.” Full statement here.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker
“President Obama’s nuclear agreement with Iran will be remembered as one of America’s worst diplomatic failures. The deal allows Tehran to dismantle U.S. and international sanctions without dismantling its illicit nuclear infrastructure—giving Iran’s nuclear weapons capability an American stamp of approval. In crafting this agreement, President Obama has abandoned the bipartisan principles that have guided our nonproliferation policy and kept the world safe from nuclear danger for decades. Full statement here.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio
“I have said from the beginning of this process that I would not support a deal with Iran that allows the mullahs to retain the ability to develop nuclear weapons, threaten Israel, and continue their regional expansionism and support for terrorism. Based on what we know thus far, I believe that this deal undermines our national security. President Obama has consistently negotiated from a position of weakness, giving concession after concession to a regime that has American blood on its hands, holds Americans hostage, and has consistently violated every agreement it ever signed.” Full statement here.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal
“If Secretary Clinton goes along with President Obama’s efforts to appease Iran, it will make our enemies stronger, endanger our ally Israel and trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that will destabilize the region.
Throughout this process, President Obama appeared more concerned with reaching a deal irrespective of the terms. The result is now a dangerous deal that has put Iran on a path to obtaining a nuclear weapon, depleted America’s military strength in the Gulf, and made Israel less safe. And that certainly makes us less safe here at home.” Full statement here.
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham
“If the initial reports regarding the details of this deal hold true, there’s no way as president of the United States I would honor this deal. It’s incredibly dangerous for our national security, and it’s akin to declaring war on Sunni Arabs and Israel by the P5+1 because it ensures their primary antagonist Iran will become a nuclear power and allows them to rearm conventionally.” Details here.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie
“After two years of humiliating concessions by President Obama, he has made his deal with Iran. He should have walked away. … The deal as structured will lead to a nuclear Iran and, then, a nuclearized Middle East.” Full statement here.
Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina
“I’ve never negotiated an Iran nuclear deal, but I’ve negotiated a lot of high-stakes deals, and there are a couple of rules and every rule has been broken. If you want a good deal, you’ve got to walk away sometimes. We never did.” Details here.
