Christian Leaders for a Nuclear Free Iran (CLNFI) sent a letter today (April 29, 2010) to Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi urging them to move H.R. 2194, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act, out of conference committee and send it to President Obama for his signature no later than the Memorial Day recess.

Previously, on December 10, 2009, CLNFI leaders wrote a letter to Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader John Boehner, Chairman Howard Berman and Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, urging the immediate passage of tough sanctions on Iran intended to prevent the regime from obtaining nuclear weapons. At that time, Dr. Richard Land of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention said, "Now that supermajorities in the House and Senate have made their support for sanctions known, and now that the Iranian regime has made its increasing defiance clear to the world, the time for Congress to act has arrived."

Almost five months have passed. The situation with Iran has only become more alarming. Congress has not moved. The whole world is waiting for leadership on Iran. Will it come only after it is too late?

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April 29, 2010

Dear Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi:

We write to you today as Christian leaders, deeply concerned about Iran obtaining nuclear weapons, and urge you to bring sanctions legislation out of conference committee and to final passage immediately. We must impose meaningful sanctions against the Iranian regime unless and until Iran abandons its efforts to develop nuclear weapons.

At the onset of his diplomatic effort with Iran in 2009, President Obama said that "by the end of the year we should have some sense whether or not these discussions are starting to yield significant benefits," and specifically held out the prospect of sanctions against Tehran "to ensure that Iran understands we are serious." That deadline has long since past, and just as President Obama said, Tehran needs proof we are serious.

If Iran obtains a nuclear weapon, it will lead to a nuclear arms race in the most dangerous region in the world. We are already beginning to see the bitter fruit of the international community's inaction. In a March meeting in Paris, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faysal Mekdad announced his country need to "consider alternative energy sources, including nuclear energy." Like Iran, this Syrian announcement was cast in the language of a peaceful energy use. Like Iran, Syria has tried to develop a clandestine nuclear reactor, in its case with the assistance of North Korea. Iranian intransigence and Western inaction is encouraging other Arab states to go down a similar path.

We simply cannot allow Iran, one of the most dangerous regimes in the world, to possess the world’s most dangerous weapons. As the clock runs out, we must remember that Iran remains the world's leading state sponsor of terror, is funding Hezbollah and Hamas in Lebanon and Gaza, has sought to destabilize democratic and Western-leaning regimes throughout the Middle East, is currently arresting and detaining political opponents, actively persecutes its Christian citizens, has shot protestors in cold blood in the streets, and its president has denied the Holocaust and vowed to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.

On behalf of millions of Christians, we urge you to move H.R. 2194, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act, out of conference committee and send it to President Obama for his signature no later than the Memorial Day recess.

As you know, this bill lays out how diplomatic efforts to address Iran’s illicit nuclear efforts and its support for international terrorism will be much more effective if the President is empowered to impose additional sanctions on the government of Iran to prevent the shipment of sensitive dual-use technologies to Iran. Additionally, it expresses that the President should take measures to respond to violations of human rights and religious freedom in Iran. Final passage of H.R. 2194 by Memorial Day will send a powerful signal that the Iranian regime shall never threaten the world with nuclear weapons.

We urge you to take bold action to protect U.S. national security. Each day that passes without action by Congress and the Administration, Iran is one day closer to obtaining a nuclear weapon.

On Memorial Day we honor the sacrifice of those who paid the ultimate price and bore the ultimate burden to preserve and protect our freedom as Americans. We can think of no better time to honor their memory than to finally pass and send to President Obama for his signature this vital legislation imposing real sanctions on Iran.

Sincerely,

Pastor John C. Hagee, National Chairman, Christians United For Israel

Dr. Paul F. Crouch, President of Trinity Broadcasting Network

Jordan Sekulow, Director of International Operations, American Center for Law & Justice

Michael Novak, George Frederick Jewett Chair Emeritus, American Enterprise Institute

Anthony Verdugo, Founder and Executive Director, Christian Family Coalition

Deal W. Hudson, President, Catholic Advocate

Dr. Richard Lee, President/Speaker, There’s Hope America

Richard Land, President, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention

James Merritt, Sr. Pastor, Cross Pointe Church

James Robison, Founder and President, LIFE Outreach International. Fort Worth, Texas

Pat Robertson, Chairman, The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2010

Contact: Dave Mohel
Phone: 703-548-1160
Email: dave@advocacyink.com

Christian Leaders Lament Foreign Governments’
Lack of Attention, Concern
Over Iranian Nuclear Program

 Leaders Praise Nations Demonstrating Their Concern

Christian Leaders for a Nuclear Free Iran (CLNFI) would like to thank the foreign representatives of Germany, France, Russia, Spain, Hungary, Austria, and Mexico for meeting with CLNFI representatives, and hearing their concerns about the looming threat of Iran developing nuclear-weapons capabilities. Even if we did not agree on all matters, or the best path forward in dealing with the problem of a nuclear-armed Iran, these foreign representatives have demonstrated their seriousness, concern, and openness to international cooperation in stopping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

Alternatively, CLNFI is saddened and disappointed by the refusal of several foreign representatives to take the threat of Iranian nuclear weapons seriously enough to agree to even a brief meeting with its representatives. Representatives of Egypt, Gabon, Uganda, Nigeria, Belgium, Brazil, Turkey, Bosnia, Japan, and Sweden, have refused repeated attempts to meet with a high-level delegation of American Christian leaders about their concerns over Iran’s clearly demonstrated program to develop nuclear weapons capabilities. We are very concerned that these foreign representatives are not taking what is perhaps the most pressing foreign policy issue facing the civilized world seriously enough.

Over 40 world leaders will meet in Washington, DC on April 12 for a Nuclear Security Summit to enhance international cooperation to prevent nuclear terrorism, an issue which President Obama has identified as the most immediate and extreme threat to global security. The emerging threat of a nuclear-armed Iran should be at the top of their agenda.

CLNFI has sent letters to the House and Senate asking for Iran sanctions legislation passed with overwhelming majorities in both houses to be settled in conference, passed, and sent to President Obama’s desk.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2010

Contact: Dave Mohel
Phone: 703-548-1160
Email: dave@advocacyink.com

Christian Leaders Urge Congress to Enforce Iran Sanctions Act of 1996

Christian Leaders for a Nuclear Free Iran is urging Congress to exercise its oversight role in ensuring that the Administration vigorously enforces the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, which mandates sanctions on firms that make energy-related investments in Iran exceeding $20 million.

According to a report in the Sunday, March 7 edition of the New York Times:

“The federal government has awarded more than $107 billion in contract payments, grants and other benefits over the past decade to foreign and multinational American companies while they were doing business in Iran, despite Washington’s efforts to discourage investment there, records show.

“That includes nearly $15 billion paid to companies that defied American sanctions law by making large investments that helped Iran develop its vast oil and gas reserves.”

The Coalition applauds Congress for passing their respective versions of Iran Sanctions legislation, and calls once again for swift action in agreeing to a common version and sending it to President Obama’s desk for his signature.

But even the best sanctions legislation will be of little use if it is not enforced. CLFNFI strongly urges Congress to investigate why the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 has not been enforced, and how billions of dollars in taxpayer money has gone to firms violating the Act.

As the New York Times report makes clear, Republican and Democratic administrations alike have been lax in their enforcement of the Act. The coalition is not asking for a partisan blame game, but is simply asking Congress to make sure the Act is being properly enforced.

The 1996 Iran Sanctions Act gives the president several enforcement options against companies in violation of the Act. The President can prohibit the violators from gaining access to:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2010

Contact: Dave Mohel
Phone: 703-548-1160
Email: dave@advocacyink.com

Failure to Deal with Iranian Weapons Program
Is Bringing Volatile Region Closer to Nuclear Arms Race,
Christian Leaders Warn
Syrian Intentions to Pursue Nuclear Technology Leads Coalition
To Urge House and Senate to Reconcile Sanctions Bill Immediately,
And Send to President Obama’s Desk

The lack of resolve in dealing with the Iranian nuclear issue is now leading to a broader outbreak of nuclear proliferation throughout the Arab world, according to a coalition of Christian leaders.

"Christian Leaders for a Nuclear-Free Iran (CLFNFI) has been urging the Congress, President Obama, and the international community to impose meaningful sanctions aimed at halting the Iranian regime’s attempts to obtain a nuclear weapon," according to Dr. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, adding that "we are now beginning to see the bitter fruits of the civilized world’s inaction." 

In a Monday meeting in Paris, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faysal Mekdad announced that his country needs to "consider alternative energy sources, including nuclear energy." 

Although Mekdad’s announcement was cast in the language of a peaceful energy development project, this is not Syria’s first foray into the nuclear circle.  In September of 2007, Israel is reported to have destroyed a clandestine Syrian nuclear reactor in an airstrike.  The Syrian reactor was based on a North Korean design, and was being constructed with the assistance of North Korean nuclear technicians. 

Syria is on the US State Department’s list of State Sponsors of Terrorism for providing financial aid, political support, weaponry, and military training to terrorist organizations.

According to Land, "the Syrian announcement underscores the point that our failure to show resolve in the face of the Iranian nuclear program is not only leading to a diplomatic failure in Iran, but has now brought us one step closer to a spreading nuclear arms race in the most volatile region of the world."

"The House and Senate have both passed meaningful sanctions against Iran by overwhelming majorities," Land said.  "Now, they must agree on a common version and send it to the President’s desk.  President Obama must not only sign that legislation, but should redouble his efforts to lead the civilized world in joining the US in sanctioning Iran until it abandons all attempts to obtain nuclear weapons."

The diplomatic virtues of patience must not be used to conceal the vices of inaction and appeasement," Land concluded.  "The problem of a nuclear-armed Middle East will grow every day until the civilized world stands against efforts to provide the most dangerous regimes in the world with the world’s most dangerous weapons." 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2010

Contact: Dave Mohel
Phone: 703-548-1160
Email: dave@advocacyink.com

  Christian Leaders Urge House, Senate to Reconcile and Pass Iran Sanctions Bills

Leaders representing millions of Evangelicals and Roman Catholics Call on Congress to Stand with Iranian Protesters

As thousands of Iranian opposition activists take to the streets, Christian Leaders for a Nuclear-Free Iran are calling on Congress to reconcile the two versions of the Iranian sanctions bills they have passed and get a single version to President Obamas desk.

On December 15, the House passed the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act by a vote of 412 to 12. The Senate passed its version on January 28 on a unanimous voice vote.

The House and Senate votes were an overwhelming display of American unity against a nuclear-armed Iran, according to Dr. Richard Land of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. They demonstrate that President Obama has the firm, bipartisan support he needs to show the Iranian regime that we are serious. As opposition leaders risk their lives on the streets of Iran to demonstrate against Ahmadinejads rogue regime, the House and Senate must finish what they started. They must quickly reconcile their respective versions of Iran sanctions legislation and get a bill to the Presidents desk for his signature.

Christian Leaders for a Nuclear-Free Iran is an ad hoc coalition of Evangelical, Roman Catholic and other faith leaders who have come together as a united, ecumenical voice to call on policy makers and opinion leaders to take urgent action to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. The coalition argues that Irans nuclear weapons program will destabilize the Middle East, lead to an arms race in a volatile part of the world, and threaten the United States and its allies in Europe.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2010

Contact: Dave Mohel
Phone: 703-548-1160
Email: dave@advocacyink.com

Christian Leaders Urge Senate to
Join House in Passing
Tough Sanctions on Iran

Leaders representing millions of Evangelicals and Roman Catholics
call for another overwhelming display of American unity
through bipartisan passage of sanctions

As President Obama prepares to deliver his State of the Union message on Wednesday, leaders representing millions of evangelicals, Roman Catholics, and other Christians have sent a letter to leaders in the Senate urging them to join the House of Representative in passing tough sanctions on Iran intended to prevent that rogue regime from obtaining nuclear weapons. 

On December 15, the House passed the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act by a vote of 412 to 12. 

"The House vote was an overwhelming display of American unity against a nuclear-armed Iran, demonstrating that President Obama has the firm, bipartisan support he needs to show the Iranian regime that we are serious," according to Dr. Richard Land of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.  "Now is the time for the Senate to show similar resolve, strength, and unity."

The letter urges the Senate to join the House in passing a measure that would cut off exports of refined petroleum products, including gasoline, as a firm yet peaceful rebuke against the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.

After repeated efforts to persuade Iran to comply with it international obligations and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reported to its member nations that its diplomatic efforts with the Iranian regime have come to a "dead end."  Since then, defiant Iranian officials have announced plans to begin building additional nuclear facilities.

The leaders point out that at the onset of his diplomatic effort with Iran this spring, President Obama said that "by the end of the year we should have some sense whether or not these discussions are starting to yield significant benefits," and specifically held out the prospect of sanctions against Tehran "to ensure that Iran understands we are serious." That deadline is mere days away, and just as President Obama said, Tehran needs proof we are serious.

The leaders include Charles Colson of Prison Fellowship Ministries, Richard Land of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, Bill Donohue of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, Pat Robertson of Christian Broadcasting Network, Dr. James Merritt of Cross Pointe Church, Wendy Wright of Concerned Women for America, Gary Bauer of American Values, Tom Minnery of Focus on the Family, Dr. John Hagee of the Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Deal Hudson of the Morley Institute for Church and Culture and Jordan Sekulow of the American Center for Law and Justice.

These leaders urge an immediate vote in the Senate to take advantage of the overwhelming bipartisan majority that was demonstrated by the House, and that stands ready in the Senate favoring strong sanctions against the Iranian regime. 

The letter is an initiative of Christian Leaders for a Nuclear-Free Iran, an ad hoc coalition of evangelical, Roman Catholic and other faith leaders who have come together as a united, ecumenical voice that is reaching out to policy makers and opinion leaders and calling for urgent action to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.  The coalition argues that Iran’s nuclear weapons program will destabilize the Middle East, lead to an arms race in a volatile part of the world, and threaten the United States and its allies in Europe.

January 26, 2010

Dear Member of the United States Senate:

We write to you today as Christian leaders, deeply concerned about Iran obtaining nuclear weapons, and urge you to bring legislation to the floor of the U.S. Senate that will impose meaningful sanctions against the Iranian regime unless and until Iran abandons its efforts to develop nuclear weapons.

At the onset of his diplomatic effort with Iran this spring, President Obama said that "by the end of the year we should have some sense whether or not these discussions are starting to yield significant benefits," and specifically held out the prospect of sanctions against Tehran "to ensure that Iran understands we are serious." That deadline is mere days away, and just as President Obama said, Tehran needs proof we are serious.

In a report issued November 26, the IAEA Director General reluctantly concluded that talks meant to steer Iran’s nuclear program away from weapons development had come to a dead end because Iran has repeatedly lied about the extent of its nuclear enrichment program. This was most recently demonstrated by the discovery of a secret Iranian nuclear facility, the existence of which Iran has repeatedly denied. The IAEA member nations that "there has been no movement on remaining issues of concern which need to be clarified for the agency to verify the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program," and that the IAEA has "effectively reached a dead end, unless Iran engages fully with us." As you know, the "issues of concern" to which the IAEA referred are the growing body of evidence that the Iranian regime has experimented with nuclear weapons programs, including missile-delivery systems and tests of explosives that could serve as nuclear-bomb detonators.

Powerful voices within the Iranian government have responded with defiance to the IAEA report and its resolution condemning Iran’s secret nuclear-enrichment plant in Qom. On November 30, the Speaker of Iran’s parliament, Ali Larijani, suggested Iran will withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. And, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, said that, as a direct response to the IAEA resolution, Iran intends to build an additional 10 nuclear enrichment facilities – which would give Iran a total of 500,000 centrifuges, enough to produce over 150 bombs a year.

The stakes are exceedingly high. A nuclear-armed Iran is almost certain to initiate an arms race with other Middle Eastern and Arab nations who have reason to fear the religious, political and military ambitions of Iran’s extremist leaders. As the world's leading state sponsor of international terror, we must assume Iran will sell or give nuclear weapons to extremist groups that are declared and demonstrated enemies to America and her allies.

As demonstrated by their co-sponsorship of implementing legislation, an overwhelming, bipartisan consensus exists among your colleagues in the House and Senate in support of sanctions on foreign companies that: export refined petroleum products, including gasoline, to Iran; help maintain Iran’s domestic refining capacity; provide ships or shipping services to transport such products; underwrite those shipments to Iran; or finance or broker those shipments. Although these proposed sanctions are a serious start, we urge you to consider other, targeted sanctions as may be required to demonstrate our seriousness to the Iranian regime.

The IAEA has concluded that diplomatic efforts have reached a dead end. It is time for you to bring legislation implementing these sanctions to the floor for a vote. Additionally we urge you to make your actions and concerns known to the United Nations Security Council and our allies in the international community who share a common interest in preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

As the clock runs out, we must remember that Iran remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terror, is funding Hezbollah and Hamas in Lebanon and Gaza, has sought to destabilize democratic and Western-leaning regimes throughout the Middle East, is currently arresting and detaining political opponents, actively persecutes its Christian citizens, has shot protestors in cold blood in the streets, and its president has denied the Holocaust and vowed to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. We speak out today on behalf of millions of Christians who believe that the interests of peace and security would best be served by our elected representatives sending a powerful signal that this tyrannical Iranian regime shall never threaten the world with nuclear weapons.

Sincerely,

Dr. Pat Robertson, President of Christian Broadcasting Network
Chuck Colson
Richard Land, President of Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptist Convention
Tom Minnery, Senior Vice President of Government and Public Policy at Focus on the Family
Dr. John Hagee, Cornerstone Church, San Antonio, Texas
Wendy Wright, President of Concerned Women for America
Colin A. Hanna, President of Let Freedom Ring
Michael Little, President of Christian Broadcasting Network
Anthony Verdugo, Founder and Executive Director of Christian Family Coalition
C. Preston Noell, III, President of Tradition, Family, Property, Inc.
Micah Clark, Executive Director of American Family Association of Indiana
Michael Novak, Author, Scholar and awarded 1994 Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion
Matthew Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel
Dr. Benny Tate, Senior Pastor, Rock Springs Church, Milner, GA
Jack Rohrer, President of Virginia Faith and Freedom Coalition
Robert E. Reccord, President of Total Life Impact Ministries
Ron Shuping, Executive VP of Programming, The Inspiration Networks
William A. Donohue, President of The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights
Ronald J. Rychlak, MDLA Professor of Law, University of Mississippi, School of Law
Diana L. Banister, Vice President and Partner of Shirley & Banister Public Affairs
Deal Hudson, Executive Director of Catholic Advocate
Mark A. Smith, President of Ohio Christian University
Dr. Richard Lee, President of There’s Hope America
Jack Whelan, Chairman of Culture of Life Foundation
Peter Huessy, President of GeoStrategic Analysis of Potomac, Maryland
Bobby Eberle, President of GOPUSA
Bud Hansen, Papal Foundation
Jeffrey Karls, President of Magdalen College
David R. Carlin, Professor of Sociology and Philosophy at the Community College of Rhode Island
Al Kresta President and CEO, Ave Maria Radio Host, "Kresta in the Afternoon"
Cortes E. DeRussy, Bronxville, NY, Former Board Chair, Crisis Magazine
Dr. James Merritt, Senior Pastor, Cross Pointe Church, Duluth, GA
Rev. Louis P. Sheldon, Chairman of Traditional Values Coalition
Jordan Sekulow, Director of International Operations at American Center for Law and Justice
Gary L. Bauer, President of American Values
Jim Martin, Chairman, 60 Plus Association
Judge Paul Pressler, Southern Baptist Convention, Houston, Texas
Stuart Epperson, Chairman of the Board, Salem Communications
Grace G. Rendall, LIFE! Christian Televison
Troy A. Miller, President, COO, National Religious Broadcast Network
W. R. Skelton, President and CEO, Love Worth Finding Ministries, Inc.
Jerry Newcombe, D. Min., Senior Producer, Coral Ridge Ministries
Jack Graham, Pastor, Prestonwood Baptist Church
Dr. James M. Hutchens, President, The Jerusalem Connection
Tony Perkins, President, Family Research Council
Gary J. Palmer, President, Alabama Policy Institute
Mark Williamson, Founder and President, Federal Intercessors