The International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog group, recently issued a report declaring that Iran is indeed developing a nuclear warhead. The report also concluded that Iran is speeding up its nuclear program, based on its continuing enrichment of uranium, the recent discovery of a secret nuclear facility, and its refusal to transfer uranium to another country for enrichment after promising to do so. The international community is clearly running out of time to prevent a nuclear Iran.

I remain deeply troubled about Iran’s nuclear program. A nuclear Iran would threaten U.S. troops and our allies in the region, and likely spark a dangerous arms race with Arab nations who are concerned about Iran’s growing power. I believe President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton should immediately abandon their ineffective goodwill efforts toward Iran and demand that the United Nations impose paralyzing sanctions that cripple Iran’s energy sector and its ability to acquire nuclear materials. We must also express solidarity with the brave men and women in Iran who are risking their lives every day to demand democratic reforms in their homeland. Additionally, we should consider strengthening our efforts to deter hostile Iranian behavior by possibly building on General David Petraeus’ recent decision to deploy Patriot defensive missiles to four nearby countries and to keep two anti-missile cruisers in the region. These actions would demonstrate that our nation is serious about addressing this emerging threat to U.S. security interests and denying Iran it ’s dangerous power grab in the Middle East.