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Ted Cruz: Iran Deal's $50 Billion Signing Bonus Will Fund Terrorism
Tuesday, July 14, 2015 10:02 PM
By: Jason Devaney
A $50 billion signing bonus that could be part of the Iran deal will be used to fund terrorism, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz says.
During an interview at the Christians United For Israel conference in Washington, D.C. Monday, Cruz — a Republican candidate for president — said the so-called signing bonus will ultimately help terror groups attack Americans.
"One component [of this deal] I understand is a $50 billion signing bonus of frozen assets that would flow into Iran. That money, we know to an absolute certainty would be used to fund Hezbollah, Hamas, and radical Islamic terrorists throughout the Middle East, throughout Latin America and the world," Cruz said, the Christian Post reports.
"That money would be used to murder Americans, Europeans, Israelis. This deal, if it is consummated, would transform the United States government into being one of the leading financiers funding terrorism against Americans."
"It makes no sense whatsoever and we are going to have over the next couple of months a serious debate over the Iran deal. It is my hope that the American people will rise up. I would give a call of action of the men and women of CUFI that it is critical that each and every one of us reach out and highlight the threat."
Later, Cruz accused the Obama administration of "appeasement."
"The truth of the matter is that Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, and President Obama are all perfectly fine with Iran having a nuclear weapon," Cruz said. "The inevitable outcome of this deal is either one of two things will happen. Either Iran will acquire nuclear weapons or there will be military conflict. This hardy deal makes military conflict more likely.
"This is what the administration doesn't understand. They believe in appeasement. It's like they really ought to be conducting these negotiations in Munich and come back promising peace for our time. Appeasement doesn't work. I believe in peace through strength."
According to Politico, which cited an Iranian news story, Iran ordered the United States to fork over $50 billion in damages dating back to the 1979 revolution as part of an agreement regarding the country's nuclear program.
Critics have blasted the deal since it was announced early Tuesday, particularly Cruz's GOP challengers for president.
James Woolsey, a former director of the CIA, told Newsmax TV the deal is "worse than worthless."
"An agreement modeled after what we were talking about a couple of years ago might, if done right, have had some useful effect," Woolsey said. "What they've agreed on now is, as I've said, worse than worthless."
