Democratic Rep. Grace Meng, whose Queens, New York City district includes a large Jewish population, has become the first House member in her party to break ranks with the party line and state her opposition to the P5+1 nuclear deal with Iran.
Rep. Meng also is a member of the House Foreign Relations Committee.
She praised President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry for their efforts but added that she discovered too many holes in the agreement, particularly concerning inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Rep, Meng stated:
I strongly believe the world could and should have a better deal than that set forth in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which I will therefore oppose.
I believe the inspections procedures set forth are flawed.
She also echoed Israel’s argument that the agreement would result in a windfall of tens of billions of dollars for Hezbollah terror.
Meng explained:
The immediate sanctions relief provided Iran in the deal would incentivize the funding of terrorism and lessen Iran’s interest in restraining its nuclear ambitions over the long term. I commend President Obama and Secretary Kerry for their efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, but the deal before us now is simply too dangerous for the American people.
I have every confidence a better deal can be realized.
New York City’s Democratic Rep. Eliot Engel is grasping with his political dilemma of whether or not to go against President Obama. He told the Observer last week that some parts of the agreement are “very troubling” but has not yet taken a definite position.