Marco Rubio Unhappy Iran Nuke Negotiations Extended

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and a possible contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, slammed the news that efforts to reach a deal to limit Irans nuclear program have been extended past its Monday deadline.

Iran was only brought to the negotiating table through tough sanctions and we need to once again increase the pressure on Iran in the weeks and months ahead to force the regime to abandon its nuclear weapons program, Rubio said on Monday. Papering over what appear to be significant differences and once again extending talks with Iran will not achieve the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free Iran. During the course of these negotiations, Iran has received billions of dollars in sanctions relief, bolstering its economy.

The Iranian regimes track record as the worlds foremost state sponsor of terrorism and an abuser of the Iranian people has not changed, Rubio added. From the outcome of this latest round, it also appears that Irans leadership remains unwilling to give up their nuclear ambitions. None of this will change in the coming months unless we return to the pressure track that originally brought Iran to the table.

Endless negotiations and additional concessions will not achieve the desired outcome of an Iran without nuclear weapons that is no longer a threat to its own people and its neighbors, Rubio said in conclusion. I will continue working in the Senate to significantly increase the pressure on Iran on all fronts -- nuclear, terrorism and human rights -- before its too late.