Senator Brownback (R-KS), Congressman Sherman (D-CA) Urge Secretary of State Rice to Keep Former Iranian President Out of the United States

August 30, 2006

U.S. Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) Urges Secretary Rice to Keep Former Iranian President Out of the United States

Statement from Senator Brownback:

"It is clear that President Khatami oversaw the growth and advancement of the same nuclear program we now seek to halt.  Iran continues to reject requests to freeze its nuclear program.  We should not have granted a visa to an individual who helped develop Iran's nuclear capabilities.

Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism since 1984, and under Khatami's watch, Iran remained the most active state sponsor of terror.  In addition, President Khatami led a government responsible for numerous human rights violations.  His government brutally cracked down on Iranians who called for political reforms and engaged in repeated and systematic persecution of religious minorities.  He should not be allowed to become the highest ranking Iranian official to visit the United States since the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis.

Allowing a Khatami visit signals that the United States is willing to ignore concerns about nuclear weapons, terrorism and human rights - the very building blocks of our policy toward Iran.  I urge the Administration to ensure that U.S. policy remains focused on defending our national interests and upholding our values."

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August 30, 2006

U.S. Congressman Urges U.S. to Bar Khatami 

U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) is urging Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to deny permission for former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami to visit Washington.

Sherman, a member of the International Relations Committee and the ranking Democrat on the Terrorism and Nonproliferation Subcommittee, is a critic of Iran's ties to terrorists and a proponent of strong sanctions to deter Tehran's nuclear program.

His letter to Secretary Rice read in part:

"While I understand he has been invited to speak at the National Cathedral at the behest of the Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation, a visit by the so-called reformist president would no doubt be utilized for maximum propaganda benefit by the Iranian government in the current standoff over Iran's nuclear program. "

"Moreover, Khatami was the president of a country labeled the number one state sponsor of terrorism by the State Department every year during his presidency.  We can certainly discuss to no end the degree to which Khatami "the reformist" may have wanted to change his country's policies.  But Khatami showed no interest in curtailing his country's support for terrorism during his tenure as president, and certainly has not shown any now.  He was and is a strong proponent of Iranian government material support for such terrorist organizations as Hezbollah, HAMAS and Palestinian Islamic Jihad."

To sign the Center's protest, use this link...