IRAN-NUCLEAR/CARTER-DEMPSEY Carter, Dempsey seek to assuage congressional concerns over Iran nuclear deal

Record ID: 145806

  • Title: IRAN-NUCLEAR/CARTER-DEMPSEY Carter, Dempsey seek to assuage congressional concerns over Iran nuclear deal
  • Date: 29th July 2015
  • Summary: WASHINGTON DC, USA (JULY 29, 2015) (UNRESTRICTED POOL) WIDESHOT MEMBERS OF SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE ENTERING HEARING ROOM U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY SEATED ALONGSIDE (LEFT TO RIGHT) U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY JACK LEW, U.S. SECRETARY ASH CARTER, U.S. ENERGY SECRETARY ERNEST MONIZ, AND GENERAL MARTIN DEMPSEY, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE U.S. JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF WIDESH
  • Embargoed: 13th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA5BICUKEXDSVTSQSONBAXTRTEC
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and U.S. Joint Chiefs chairman General Martin Dempsey told a congressional committee on Wednesday (July 29) the nuclear agreement with Iran would not destabilize the region militarily or give Iran an opening to increase its influence in the Middle East.
    "I fear this agreement will further undermine our ability and willing to play this vital stabilizing role. Our allies and partners in the Middle East have increasingly come to believe that America is withdrawing from the region and doing so at a time when Iran is aggressively seeking to advance its hegemonic ambitions," said Senator John McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
    Dempsey told the committee the nuclear agreement does not alleviate U.S. concerns of Iran's development of ballistic missile technology, weapon trafficking, naval mines and malicious activity in the cyberspace.
    "Ultimately time and Iranian behavior will determine if the nuclear deal is effective and sustainable," Dempsey said.
    Carter told the committee that the deal does not jeopardize the security of Israel and the Israel will continue to receive advanced military technology to maintain its qualitative edge in the region.
    "Israel will be our first and only friend in the region flying the F-35 joint strike fighter. We continue to work with Israel on ballistic missile defense system in fact three of them," Carter said.
  • Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register