WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined Fox News Sunday to discuss Iran and North Korea.

“I hope that we will see President Trump end up proving himself to be a deal maker and not a deal breaker, but in this instance I heard from the ambassadors of our European allies that they are concerned that “America First” is turning into America alone and that whether it's in the path towards this Singapore summit with North Korea, where our South Korean close ally was not consulted before the announcement was made or it's in the path forward toward trying to restrain Iran's behavior and Russia’s behavior that the close relationship we used to enjoy with Germany, France and the United Kingdom is fraying a bit,” said Senator Coons. 

Full audio and video are available here. 

Excerpts from the interview are below:

Sen. Coons on Iran: Well, I agree with Secretary Pompeo and Senator Blunt that a lot of Iran's behavior outside the nuclear deal in recent years has been alarming and compels us to take action. What I had wished the President had done is to recognize the benefits we've gotten from the Iran Nuclear Deal in constraining their nuclear program and getting us searching inspections of Iran's nuclear activities and work more closely with our European allies, with the Germans, the French, the British to reach a second deal, a bigger deal that would rein in ballistic missile program, their human rights violations and their support for terrorism. I completely agree that Iran is a bad regime that threatens our allies and conducts itself in ways that are unacceptable. I just disagree about whether causing greater distance with our European allies by sanctioning them and some of their biggest companies is the right path. 

More on Iran: I hope that we will see President Trump end up proving himself to be a deal maker and not a deal breaker, but in this instance I heard from the ambassadors of our European allies that they are concerned that “America First” is turning into America alone and that whether it's in the path towards this Singapore summit with North Korea, where our South Korean close ally was not consulted before the announcement was made or it's in the path forward toward trying to restrain Iran's behavior and Russia’s behavior that the close relationship we used to enjoy with Germany, France and the United Kingdom is fraying a bit. 

More on North Korea: I think it's possible to have a constructive and positive summit and I certainly prefer President Trump's choice of diplomacy over threatening fire and fury and I commend him and Secretary Pompeo for gaining the release of three Americans held in North Korea and recently another American released from Venezuela. I hope that he's successful. I would caution that if we go ahead without using every ounce of leverage we have over China, we are making a mistake. I was really struck that President Trump this past week was tweeting that he was going to work with Xi Jinping to release some of the pressure on ZTE. Let me explain how these two connect. North Korea critically relies on China. If we don't have China putting maximum pressure on North Korea, I don't think this summit will succeed. ZTE is one of China's biggest telecom companies, they have repeatedly and intentionally violated our sanctions against North Korea and Iran. And the Department of Commerce just imposed powerful sanctions against ZTE blocking them from getting U.S. material for six years. This is a moment where President Trump has China's attention and should use it to extract concessions both on North Korea and on China's ongoing theft of our inventions and innovations. I hope Trump would show himself to do that.  

More on the Summit: That is correct. It is a significant concession to North Korea to offer a summit, they've never had an opportunity to meet with an American president, it's something that they've long wanted to elevate them to an equal to the United States and it's important that North Korea has given up a number of American prisoners as a confidence-building measure. But let's be clear, twice before North Korea under Kim Jong un's father committed to full denuclearization in six-party talks in 2005 and 2007 as Senator Blunt just referenced only to then change their tune. So, we are going to have to be very focused, very engaged. I'm hopeful that Secretary Pompeo will brief and engage Congress and I'm hopeful that we will work together to make sure that the summit is a success.  

Sen. Coons on the FBI: A critical role that the FBI provides is counterintelligence and when they began getting evidence that the Russians were engaged in a broad campaign to try and influence the 2016 election, I think it was appropriate for them to use a confidential informant to investigate what the Russians were up to. I'm struck that Rudy Giuliani continues to talk about 13 Democrats, 13 Democrats and a rigged investigation as he just did on the show. Let me remind you, Robert Mueller, Rod Rosenstein, Chris Wray, this is the Special Counsel, the FBI Director, Deputy Attorney General: all lifelong Republicans, Robert Mueller the Special Counsel a decorated marine combat veteran, someone who has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate for senior law enforcement positions under both Republican and Democratic positions, to continue to undermine the credibility of the FBI and the Department of Justice in this way does not serve interest for law enforcement and rule of law.  

Sen. Coons on Mueller: Because President Trump and his actions in the campaign are potentially the focus of an investigation into obstruction of justice and collusion, I don't think it would have been appropriate for there to be the revelation of investigatory information to President Trump or his personal lawyers, particularly classified information about a human intelligence source in advance of there being any decision about whether to move forward with any final conclusion by the Mueller investigation. 

Sen. Coons on Donald Trump, Jr.: I'm concerned that in reviewing the transcript of Donald Trump, Jr.’s questioning by staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee that there's clear tension with his firm answers that there were no efforts by foreign powers to provide assistance to the Trump campaign and recent reporting that there were meetings he participated in where representatives of gulf states were offering some assistance to the Trump campaign. I do think that's worth our questioning, Donald Trump, Jr. again in front of Judiciary Committee and it's my hope that on a bipartisan basis we will continue these investigations. As Senator Blunt just said, it is in everyone's interest for these investigations to continue without interference. 

###