Washington, August 21 (RHC)-- U.S. Republican presidential pre-candidate Marco Rubio says, if elected president, he will cancel the nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries and re-impose economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
"Well, that agreement would come to an end," Rubio said of the conclusion of nuclear talks reached between Iran and the P5+1 group -- the U.S., Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany -- last month in Vienna, Austria.
"The American sanctions are the most important sanctions of all," the junior senator told NBC News. "And I would give a choice to the Deutsche Bank or any other institution around the world. You can have access to the American economy or to the Iranian economy. I'm confident they will choose the American economy."
According to the text of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran will be recognized by the United Nations as a nuclear power and will continue its uranium enrichment program. But some restrictions will be placed on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the removal of sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
The U.S. Congress is reviewing the Iran nuclear agreement and is likely to vote on it in September. Most Republicans oppose the nuclear agreement with Iran, but they need a two-thirds vote in both chambers of Congress to override a possible presidential veto, and to reach that threshold, Republicans need Democratic support.
In addition, Rubio said that, if elected president, he would also push for a war against Iran. "If, in fact, the evidence is there that they have moved forward on enrichment capabilities that exceed the amount they need for a program and that we see the weaponization process as moving forward, there will be the use of military force against Iran," the Cuban-American politician, known as an ultimate opportunist, said. "That's their choice, not ours."
Right-wing elements in the Republican Party along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some of their allies accuse Iran of pursuing military objectives in its civilian nuclear program.
Iran rejects the allegation, arguing that as a committed signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
Rubio, who has recently emerged as one the strongest supporters of Israel in the Senate, had said earlier that the United States must abandon the Obama administration's drive to reach a comprehensive agreement with Iran, renew its commitment to Israel and strengthen the U.S. military.
