Alice James (202) 224-5972

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) today released the following statement on the Obama Administration's diplomatic initiative with Iran:

"We support the willingness of the Obama Administration to test the credibility of the Iranian regime's diplomatic overtures. However, we are deeply skeptical about the real motivations behind Iran's charm offensive. We need to approach the current diplomatic initiative with eyes wide open, and we must not allow Iran to use negotiations as a tool of delay and deception. A real negotiation does not mean that the diplomats talk while the Iranians enrich.

"When Secretary Kerry sits down with the Iranian Foreign Minister, we urge him to make clear that the U.S. government, the American people, and the U.S. Congress will never allow the world's worst state sponsor of terrorism to acquire the world's most dangerous weapon. Kind words are not enough. We must see transparent, tangible, and verifiable steps by the Iranian regime to fulfill its international obligations and end its pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability. The American people and Congress will not support anything less.

"We also urge Secretary Kerry to make clear to the Iranian Foreign Minister that, while Iran's pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability is our top concern, it is not our only concern. We are also opposed to the Iranian regime's efforts to destabilize the Middle East - including its support for terrorist organizations and attacks across the region that have killed Americans; its commitment to the destruction of Israel; its attempts to assassinate Israeli and Arab officials; its oppression of the Iranian people; its threat to friendly Arab governments; its development of increasingly capable ballistic missiles; and its unwavering military assistance to the Assad regime, which has slaughtered more than 110,000 men, women, and children."

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