| (WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today commented on reports that the National Iranian Gas Export Company has signed a contract with a foreign company to export gas to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for 25 years. Statement of Ros-Lehtinen:
“I am deeply concerned by reports that the UAE is planning to import billions of dollars of natural gas from Iran, providing an economic lifeline to the Iranian regime at a time when all responsible nations should be increasing the pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program.
“This agreement between the National Iranian Gas Export Company and the unnamed company to develop a gas field for the purpose of exporting gas to the UAE for 25 years may well violate the Iran Sanctions Act.
“This continued expansion of cooperation between the UAE and Iran calls into question the UAE’s commitment to work with the U.S. in stopping Iran’s growing threat to global peace and security.
“The Administration should withdraw from Congressional consideration the proposed U.S.-UAE nuclear cooperation agreement until the UAE can demonstrate that it is not pursuing policies that undermine U.S. security interests, particularly as they relate to Iran.”
Note: Ros-Lehtinen is the author of H.R. 364, which would prevent any nuclear cooperation 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.
Ros-Lehtinen has written twice to the Secretary of State seeking clarification on the issues raised in H.R. 364 and awaits confirmation that the UAE is no longer assisting or facilitating Iran’s conventional or unconventional weapons programs, among other issues of concern.
#####
|
