EMET Lauds 11 Senators led by Tom Cotton Calling on Biden to Provide Israel with Support to Defend Itself from Iran

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Naomi Grant
Director of Communications
ngrant@emetonline.org
301-893-4644

EMET profoundly thanks Senator Tom Cotton, along with 10 other senators, who recently sent a letter to President Biden urging him to provide Israel with necessary military capabilities to defend against Iran, which has only been empowered by the negotiations in Vienna.  

Whether or not these negotiations end in an agreement, Iran is surely on a steady  path to becoming a nuclear state. This is exhibited by their possession of over two tons of highly enriched uranium at the 60% level, which is an easy glide to the 90% level needed for a nuclear bomb, and a far cry from the 3.65% cap in the original 2015 JCPOA. 

Led by Senator Cotton, Sens. James Risch (R-Idaho), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Rick Scott (R-Florida), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) signed the letter. 

The letter reads, “Your administration appears intent on striking a new nuclear deal with Iran that will provide the regime with a pathway to nuclear weapons. A nuclear-armed Iran…would put at risk the existence of the State of Israel and the governments of our Arab allies, destroy America’s position in the Middle East, and ultimately threaten the U.S. homeland.” 

EMET stands in strong solidarity with Israel and urges the Biden administration to take this letter under serious consideration not only to support Israel, but to fortify US interests in the Middle East. 

Said EMET Founder and President Sarah Stern, “It has always been a cornerstone of Israeli military philosophy that they defend themselves, by themselves. Israel has never expected anyone else to take a bullet for its existence and is now facing the greatest existential threat since its founding. Today, it needs and deserves the weapon systems that they have purchased from the United States. 

If the state of Israel does feel it is necessary to exercise the military option, it would only be because of the assessment that a nuclear Iran would present a clear and present danger to the existence of the State of Israel and to our Sunni Arab allies. A nuclear-armed Iran would eventually mean that Saudi Arabia would have to nuclearize, Egypt would have to nuclearize, Turkey would have to nuclearize and the entire balance of power since World War II would be irreparably altered.  

Plus, with Hezbollah bases right under our noses in Latin America, this would certainly affect the long-term strategic interest of the United States. Furthermore, Iran does not need intercontinental ballistic missile systems to go from Tehran to Tel Aviv. They are looking at us, whom they regard as ‘The Great Satan.’ 

“Iran also has very strong ties with Russia and China, neither of whom are friends of the United States. 

Adds Ms. Stern, “If the Israelis do decide that they have no other choice but to exercise the military option, it would be in the long-term national security interests of the United States. Thank you, Senator Tom Cotton, for trying to ensure that Israel possesses the tools to be able to defend itself, by itself.”