WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke yesterday on the Senate floor about Russia’s willingness to sell missile defense systems and fighter jets to the Iranian regime, which poses huge risks to Middle East security and undermines international efforts to counter Iranian aggression. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) joined Senator Coons on the floor. 

Excerpts from Senator Coons’ remarks below:

“Iran remains a rogue and unpredictable regime that supports terrorism in the region and is publicly committed to the destruction of Israel.”

“The challenge for American diplomacy is to convince Russia that its military sales to Iran, its refusal to engage in multilateral action to punish Iranian ballistic missile tests, and its hesitancy to sanction Iran for supporting terrorist groups harm not only American interests, but Russian interests as well.”

“When it comes to countering Iranian aggression in the Middle East, a number of Russia’s recent actions threaten to do more harm than good.”

“Russia’s military sales to Iran and intransigence at the UN Security Council are disappointing, to say the least, in light of Russia’s agreement to the terms of this nuclear deal and the importance of all of us working together in the international community to constrain Iran’s bad behavior.”

Senator Coons’ full remarks below:

Mr. President, in the months since world powers reached an agreement to block Iran’s pathway to building a nuclear weapon, Iran’s behavior has given the international community reasons for both some optimism and continuing serious concern.

The positive news has been that Iran has taken some real steps to restrain its nuclear program. It has disabled two of its short-term pathways to producing weapons-grade material by shipping nearly its entire stockpile of enriched uranium out of the country and by filling its plutonium reactor with concrete. Iran has reduced its number of functioning uranium-enrichment centrifuges by two-thirds. The country has provided international inspectors 24-7 access to continuously monitor all of Iran’s declared nuclear facilities.

These are positive developments. Yet at the same time, Iran continues to engage in deeply concerning activities, such as support for terrorism and efforts to foment instability in the Middle East, and to conduct illegal ballistic missile tests, and to continue to violate its citizens’ most basic human rights.

Today, my colleagues and I come to the floor to draw attention to some of the more grave, more concerning developments of recent weeks. I’m honored to have the company of my friend, the senior senator from Connecticut, Senator Blumenthal, who will join me in addressing why Russia’s refusal to condemn Iran’s bad behavior, and in fact in some ways encourage it, poses huge security risks for our allies in the Middle East. 

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Mr. President, I thank my colleague from Connecticut who has been determined and engaged and thoughtful and vigilant for his wise words today and for his persistence of effort in making sure that our colleagues on both sides of the aisle are aware of alarming developments in the region and continue to do everything we can in a responsible and bipartisan way to support Israel’s security through the MOU, which he’s referenced and where he led a letter about importance of a prompt and support of renegotiation of that MOU, and by calling attention to Russia’s destabilizing actions. 

As Senator Blumenthal just referenced, recent media reports convey that Iran is reporting Russia has already delivered parts of this S-300 weapon system, a defense system they claim, but a weapon system that would significantly change the regional balance of power.

I’d just like to again thank my colleague from Connecticut for being shoulder to shoulder with me here on the floor today and in the months and years behind us and the months and years ahead of us because this will be a longstanding challenge to keep the members of this body and folks here in Washington focused on the very real threat to America’s security and Israel’s security that’s presented by Iran and its actions.  

As Senator Blumenthal mentioned, when it comes to countering Iranian aggression in the Middle East, a number of Russia’s recent actions do threaten to do more harm than good.

Last summer when the United States came together with the United Kingdom, France, Germany, China and Russia to reach an agreement with Iran to block their pathway to build a nuclear weapon, the international community was clear that the success of this deal relied on every signatory keeping its word and doing its part to prevent Iran from violating the deal. 

The responsibility to enforce the terms of the JCPOA goes hand-in-hand with an understanding that world powers must also push back on Iran’s bad behavior outside the four corners of this agreement – specifically, its support for terrorism, its continued illegal ballistic missile tests, and its human rights violations.

Despite its participation in the negotiations that led to the agreement, Russia reportedly plans to sell missile systems to the still-dangerous Iranian regime, as well as, as referenced by Senator Blumenthal, advanced fighter jets.

Russia also continues to block the U.N. Security Council from taking action, necessary and responsible action,n after Iran’s recent illegal ballistic missile tests, which contravene it commitments under U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231. 

Despite the divisions that have brought Congress to a standstill in recent years, I’m confident we all agree on one thing: Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.

I continue to believe that the JCPOA represents the least-bad option for blocking Iran’s pathway to a nuclear bomb. 

But in recent months, as I’ve said, Russia has repeatedly undermined the spirit of that agreement by using the JCPOA as an excuse to proceed with dangerous and provocative sales of allegedly defensive equipment to Iran. 

According to news reports as I said, Russia has begun delivering parts of the S-300 surface-to-air missile system to Iran.

Although it remains unclear how much of the system has already been delivered, five S-300 systems Russia has promised to Iran would contain 40 launchers, which could shoot down missiles and aircraft as far as 90 miles away. One version of the S-300 currently in use by the Russian military can travel nearly 250 miles at five times the speed of sound. In a worst case scenario, if Iran backs out of the nuclear deal, this S-300 system would substantially limit the international community’s options to act to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

That’s not all though. Recent news reports indicate Russia and Iran are actively negotiating an agreement to allow Iran to purchase an unknown number of Sukhoi SU-30 fighter jets, similar to the one pictured here, some of the most advanced fighter jets available in the world. Although it is unclear which specific version of this aircraft Iran is seeking to obtain, these advanced weapons would significantly enhance the capabilities of Iran’s air force. 

Currently, Iran fields an outdated mix of antiquated Russian, Iraqi, American, and Chinese -built aircraft. Many of these planes date from the Cold War. One particularly advanced variety of this Russian jet, for example, is armed with air-to-air, anti-ship, land attack missiles and bombs. Precision munitions that would significantly increase the performance capabilities of the Iranian air force. They could target other fighter aircraft, stationary military facilities, and naval vessels. These fighter jets, in the hands of Iran, would fundamentally change the balance of power in the Middle East and pose a threat to U.S. facilities and our local allies. 

According to some reports, Iran, more concerning, is seeking not just to buy these aircraft but also license their production in Iran, which would greatly strengthen Iran’s industrial base and its technical knowledge, but also leave the international community with even fewer options to prevent Iranian access to this technology in the future. 

At a recent Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Tom Shannon the Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, said the United States would, “block the approval of fighter aircraft” sales from Russia to Iran, and I urge the Obama administration to use all diplomatic measures available to it to ensure we fulfill Undersecretary Shannon’s commitment.

As my colleagues know, Iran could use these weapons to threaten U.S. assets in the Persian Gulf region, challenge the safety of our vital ally, Israel, and other close partners, or to protect illicit nuclear sites within Iran’s borders.

These threats are not just hypothetical. Iran remains a rogue and unpredictable regime that supports terrorism in the region and is publicly committed to the destruction of Israel.

Mr. President, the international community cannot stand by while Iran continues to threaten our allies and destabilize the Middle East.

Its illegal ballistic missile tests in March served as yet another example that the Iranian regime is not a responsible member of the international community. 

These tests helped Iran to further develop missiles capable of reaching most of the Middle East and even parts of Europe. They destabilize the region and belie Iran’s supposedly peaceful intentions—stated often by both its president and foreign minister—they claim Iran’s intentions are to serve as a responsible member of the international community.

These provocative ballistic missile tests clearly contradict their commitments under U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231 and demand a response.

Last week, I met with Vitaly Churkin, the Russian Ambassador to the United Nations.  While Ambassador Churkin reiterated Russia’s commitment to the JCPOA and our shared goal of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, I left our conversation convinced that Russia will continue to stand in the way of the international community’s efforts to penalize Iran’s ballistic missile tests.

Mr. President, Russia’s military sales to Iran and intransigence at the U.N. Security Council are disappointing, to say the least, in light of Russia’s agreement to the terms of this nuclear deal and the importance of all of us working together in the international community to constrain Iran’s bad behavior.

The challenge for American diplomacy is to convince Russia that its military sales to Iran, its refusal to engage in multilateral action to punish Iranian ballistic missile tests, and its hesitancy to sanction Iran for supporting terrorist groups harm not only American interests, but Russian interests as well.

Enabling Iran to strengthen its military capabilities makes it easier for Iran in the future to one day return to an effort to develop a nuclear weapon. Ballistic missile tests foment instability in the whole Persian Gulf and southern Europe, both of which lie close to Russia. As we’ve tragically seen in recent weeks, the scourge of modern terrorism does not abide by international borders and poses a real threat to Russia as well. 

In the coming months and years, the United States must continue to pursue action at the Security Council and work with our European allies to punish Iran for its bad behavior.

With that, I’d like to yield to my friend, the senior Senator from Minnesota, who has just joined me here for this colloquy. Senator Klobuchar has joined me to talk about the importance of continuing to work to hold Iran accountable under the JCPOA, the urgent need to confirm senior national security nominees, and the imperative of supporting our regional partners, especially our vital ally, Israel. Senator Klobuchar.

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Mr. President, I’d like to thank Senators Klobuchar and Blumenthal for joining me in this colloquy.