| (WASHINGTON) - U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today sent a follow-up letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton concerning the proposed U.S.-UAE nuclear agreement as the Secretary prepares to meet today with Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates. Ros-Lehtinen requested specific information regarding the Administration’s assessment of the UAE’s nonproliferation controls and ties to the Iranian regime. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:
“The State Department has failed to adequately respond to Congressional inquiries regarding the proposed U.S.-UAE nuclear cooperation agreement, especially the status of the UAE’s export control laws and ties to the Iranian regime.
“If basic questions are not answered regarding the UAE’s commitment to keeping nuclear and missile technology out of Iran’s hands, the Administration should withdraw the agreement from Congressional consideration.
“Without written assurances on these critical issues, this agreement will be a ‘leap in the dark’ with unpredictable consequences for U.S. security and will set a troubling precedent for all future agreements in the region.”
Note: Ros-Lehtinen is the author of H.R. 364, which would prevent any nuclear agreement with the UAE from coming into effect until the Administration makes certain certifications regarding the UAE’s export control laws and ties to the Iranian regime.
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