U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg says he can't support a new deal negotiated between Iran and six world powers – the U.S., the U.K., France, China, Russia, and Germany – because it gives Iran too much freedom to continue developing weapons and does not include a provision for the release of four U.S. citizens currently in Iranian prisons. One of those Americans is Amir Hekmati, a marine from Flint, Michigan, who has been in prison in Tehran for over three years on spying charges.
Walberg cited a release of $150 billion of sanctioned funds that could be used by Iran to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles as unacceptable. "We all know that intercontinental ballistic missiles are not used to defeat Israel," says Walberg.
Walberg also says that weapons inspections will not be open and transparent, but that Iran will decide how and when the inspections will take place, and will have 24 days to allow the team in.
"Right now, if the vote were held today, I could not approve this agreement. We'll take a look at it. We have 60 days once they show it to us," Walberg says.
