U.S. senators from Illinois disagree on Iran agreement
Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk is blasting a preliminary nuclear agreement between Iran, the U.S. and other world powers saying Iran will be allowed to "keep vast capabilities to make nuclear weapons."
Kirk, a Highland Park Republican, is one of the most vocal U.S. senators pushing for tougher sanctions against Iran aimed at curtailing the country's nuclear program. He was one of 47 senators signing a controversial letter to Iranian leaders last month suggesting a deal struck now might not last.
"Neville Chamberlain got a better deal from Adolf Hitler," Kirk said in a written statement. "Under today's deal, the United States and its international partners will dismantle the sanctions regime against Iran, while Iran, the world's biggest exporter of terrorism, will be allowed to keep vast capabilities to make nuclear weapons."
U.S. Sen Dick Durbin, a Springfield Democrat, praised the preliminary agreement.
"The stakes couldn't be higher and I commend Secretary Kerry and our entire negotiating team for their commitment to finding a diplomatic solution that guarantees our security and that of our allies," Durbin said in a statement.
Kirk, in his statement, said the U.S. and its international partners will "dismantle the sanctions regime against Iran."
The deal announced Thursday between Iran and six other world powers outlines limits on Iran's nuclear program so it cannot lead to atomic weapons. Negotiators now have to take that deal and shape it into a final accord by the end of June.
The agreement announced Thursday says "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed."