menendez-aipac
Sen. Robert Menendez addresses the American Israel Public Affairs Conference March 2. (Jonathan D. Salant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez tonight told the largest pro-Israel lobbying group that he would only support a negotiated agreement that dismantles Iran's nuclear program, not one that gives Tehran a "pathway" to a bomb.
Menendez (D-N.J.), the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee that he would oppose any deal that allowed Iranian centrifuges to keep spinning and provide at best a year's warning before the country decided to develop nuclear weapons.
"As long as I have an ounce of fight left in me, as long as I have a vote and a say and a chance to protect the interests of Israel, the region, and the national security interests of the United States, Iran will never have a pathway to a weapon," Menendez said, bringing the delegates to their feet. "It will never threaten Israel or its neighbors, and it will never be in a position to start a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Not on my watch."
Menendez is one of the most outspoken supporters of increasing sanctions if negotiations fail to curb Iran's nuclear program. The issue has pitted Menendez against President Obama, a fellow Democrat.
Obama has threatened to veto new sanctions legislation, saying it would give Iran an excuse to walk away from negotiations and leave a military solution as the only option to prevent the Islamic Republic from developing nuclear weapons.
"Congress has played a hugely important role in helping to build our sanctions on Iran, but they shouldn't play the spoiler now," said Obama's national security adviser, Susan Rice, who addressed AIPAC before Menendez. "There's simply no alternative that prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon better or longer than the type of comprehensive deal we seek."
She added: "Sound bites will not stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. Strong diplomacy, backed by pressure, can."
Though Menendez agreed to delay a vote on new sanctions until a March 25 deadline for a preliminary agreement, he said he would push to increase sanctions on Iran if no deal is reached.
"Iran needs to understand that there are consequences to an impasse -- and those consequences are additional, consequential sanctions," Menendez said. "Iranian leaders must make up their mind about what's more important -- a nuclear weapons program or the welfare of its people."
He said any deal that leaves Iran's nuclear program in place and provides just a year's warning that the country is going to build a bomb in exchange for removing sanctions is not a good one.
"It's not enough time for us to do anything other than exercise a military option," Menendez said. "Let us do all we can now to get an agreement that dismantles Iran's illicit program and ensures that it will not have to be a military response."
Rice said the U.S. would not agree to a deal that did not stop Iran from going nuclear.
"I want to be very clear: A bad deal is worse than no deal," Rice said. "And if that is the choice, there will be no deal."
Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.