Rep. Franks Strongly Supports Dissidents in Iran

Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) made the following statement in response to the ongoing crackdown of Iranian dissidents taking place in Iran:

"The Iranian people should know that America stands overwhelmingly in support of them and their courageous pursuit of freedom, fair elections, and basic human rights. Furthermore, they must know that we are outraged at the barbaric nature with which their protests have been handled by the current Iranian regime, which has already killed at least five Iranian dissidents and probably many more. Former President Bush once stated that '...no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.' I would add that the same is true of those who are oppressed but long for human freedom. While the valiant dissidents in Iran, who are risking their very lives to stand up to this radical regime, may feel they are outnumbered, they must know that the entire peace-loving world stands with them in unwavering solidarity.

"President Obama has offered only tacit support of these dissidents, which is meaningless until he begins to follow his words with strong action. An entire year of the Obama Administration has passed, in which Ahmadinejad's regime has continued its relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons. Ultimately I am convinced that only three things will prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear armed nation: a regime change, military intervention, or a conviction in the minds of the Iranian leaders that military intervention will occur if development of theirnuclear weapons systems does not cease.

"The president must realize that if we continue on this course, he may be responsible in history for allowing Iran to gain nuclear weapons and change the course of human history in a dark and terrible way."

Congressman Franks has introduced H.R. 3832, the "Peace Through Strength Act," which would strengthen the United States' sanctions on Iran and would require the Secretary of Defense to develop and maintain viable military options to prevent the successful development or deployment of nuclear weapons by the Iranian government.