Crapo Statement on Iran Nuclear Deal

Washington, D.C.-Idaho Senator Mike Crapo today released the following statement after it was announced that the United States and five other nations reached a nuclear deal with Iran:

"I am deeply disappointed by the failure of the Administration to secure the release of Boise Pastor Saeed Abedini and other Americans being held prisoner in Iran, " said Crapo.  "Their release should have been a prerequisite to beginning any negotiations in the first place, let alone a final agreement.  When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that no deal was better than a bad deal before a joint session of Congress, he was right.   Though I will fully scrutinize the deal in further detail as Congress begins the review process, initial reports indicate that the agreement is just that-a bad deal.  The Administration has repeatedly provided concessions to Iran and weakened our bargaining position with little, if any, assurances they will abandon their nuclear ambitions. The consequences of an agreement that leaves Iran's nuclear program intact and allows the country to continue its aggression in the Middle East are monumental and pose a very real threat to the United States and the world."