Reps Rivera, Ros-Lehtinen and Mack Want State Dept Investigation on Links Between Argentina, Iran and Venezuela
IASW | Friday, July 15th, 2011 | No Comments »
Washington, DC- House Foreign Affairs Committee Member Congressman David Rivera (FL-25) and his colleagues, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18) and Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chairman Connie Mack (FL-14), have asked the State Department to provide information on possible links between Iran and Argentina that are being facilitated by Venezuela.
“We are writing to express our concern about the information our offices have received regarding potential efforts by Iran to engage in nuclear cooperation with Argentina, using Venezuela as its interlocutor,” the Members wrote in a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
While Argentina has publicly maintained its objections to Iran’s nuclear program following attacks on the Israeli Embassy and on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires in the early 1990s, Congressman Rivera, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen and Congressman Mack believe that the State Department should investigate the alleged growing commercial relationship between Argentina and Iran through Venezuela.
“The Chairwoman of Foreign Affairs Committee, the Chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee and I have made a serious request for an inquiry into suspicious payments and agreements involving Argentina, Venezuela and Iran,” Congressman Rivera said. “Rather than responding to our request responsibly and directly, the only acknowledgement that we have received was a backhanded comment from Assistant Secretary of State Arturo Valenzuela, who called our request unsubstantiated and exaggerated.
“Instead of launching a serious inquiry, Assistant Secretary Valenzuela expects us to take Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman at his word that there is nothing going on. Mr. Valenzuela’s response shows the State Department’s disregard for the Congress, the American people and our national security.
“Despite Assistant Secretary Valenzuela’s brush off, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, Congressman Mack and I are still expecting a credible response and an explanation for the apparent links between Argentina and Iran that are being facilitated by Venezuela.
“The State Department must either conduct a true investigation of this matter or be held accountable for failing to do so. While Mr. Valenzuela may feel comfortable ignoring a request from Members of Congress because he will be leaving his post soon, we expect a response from his successor, as well as Secretary Clinton.”
Click here for original press release
