Video of Congressman Sherman in Action
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Brad Sherman on Thursday condemned Iran’s new president for declaring that Israel “must be wiped off the map.”
A member of the House International Relations Committee, Sherman called on President Bush to strictly enforce sanction laws against Iran and companies investing there. He also pressed for the administration to articulate a coordinated strategy to counter the regime’s support of terrorists and to deal forcefully with the grave threat posed by Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
“Five years into the Bush administration, and four years after the great wake-up call provided by the September 11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. still does not have a coherent strategy for dealing with the twin threats from Iran – support for international terrorism and the development of nuclear weapons,” Sherman said.
Sherman also commended Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for calling on Thursday for Iran's expulsion from the United Nations. At the very least, he said, Iran should not be allowed to participate in the U.N. until it apologizes for its statements, abandons its nuclear weapons program and stops supporting terrorists.
Sherman has been a leading advocate for increasing international pressure on Iran while helping dissident Iranians and human rights advocates working for democratic reforms.
He authored legislation, the Iran Freedom and Democracy Support Act, and has consistently called on the Bush administration to implement sanctions against foreign firms doing business in Iran under the Iran Libya Sanctions Act.
The Iranian news agency reported Wednesday that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told students at a conference on "The World Without Zionism" that attacks by Palestinians would destroy Israel. The remarks were designed to inflame passions at an annual anti-Israel demonstration held on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.
Iran has refused to recognize Israel’s right to exist, and has supported Palestinian militant groups, such as the Islamic Jihad, that have staged suicide bombings, including one that killed five Israelis on Wednesday.
