Virginians back U.S. Iran policy

Iran’s missile tests demonstrate the importance of U.N. inspections and of muscular diplomacy by additional world powers, according to Virginia’s U.S. senators.

“Iran’s latest missile test is part of a pattern of provocative behavior that underscores the need for Tehran to open up its newly discovered nuclear fuel sites to international inspectors,“ Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., said in a statement.

Iran’s missile tests yesterday and Sunday came days after the U.S., Britain and France disclosed a previously secret uranium-enrichment site in Iran.

“I have two very important concerns right now with respect to the Iranian situation and also to others,“ Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.“

“The first is we’re going to face this situation with other countries in terms of nuclear power proliferation around the world.

“The other is it’s very important to get the international community, writ large, involved in tightening the way that we talk to countries like Iran about this situation. And China is key.“

Both Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, D-11th, a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Rep. Eric I. Cantor, R-7th, the No. 2 Republican in the House, said Congress should strengthen the president’s authority to sanction Iran.

Connolly said Iran’s latest missile test firings “raise increased and serious concerns that Iran is seeking to develop atomic weapons, and heighten doubts about its claims that its nuclear program is aimed at generating electricity for civilian purposes.“

Cantor said in a statement issued Friday that discovery of the second Iranian uranium-enrichment plant shows that “Iran is a real-time security threat to the United States, Israel and our allies around the world.

“A nuclear Iran is closer than many thought it was yesterday, and the problem is getting worse by the day, not better,“ Cantor said.

Contact Jeff E. Schapiro at (804) 649-6814 or

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