MESOP : AFTER VIENNA & KERRY’S CONTRACT WITH THE MULLAHS – Iraq & Syria biggest losers in Iran deal, say top GOP & Democrat senators

By BARBARA BOLAND • 7/12/15 WASHINGTON EXAMINER – Senators on both sides of the aisle on the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee agree that the Iran nuclear deal will enable Iran in its proxy war in Iraq and Syria. Analysts and several countries have said the deal will help Iran expand its zone of influence in the Middle East and buy weapons for its proxy war in Iraq.

Iraq and Syria have been torn apart by both the Islamic State and the Iran proxies that fight with the Iraqi army against them. “Iran is part of the problem with Islamic State,” said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Sunday. “The president’s commitment to a nuclear deal with Iran has tied our hands in Iraq.”Top Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez said Sunday that if the U.S. does not make “very clear that there is a deterrence” in the deal it will find itself “in the same position 12 or 13 years from now” — except “Iran will have $100 billion to $150 billion in its pocket” and will still be “promoting its terrorism throughout the Middle East.”

Diplomats in Vienna signaled Sunday that they may have reached a provisional agreement and would make a formal announcement Monday, after review by the seven nations involved in the talks — Iran, the United States, Russia, China, Germany, France and Britain.If a deal is reached, the lifted sanctions will give Iran more purchasing power, which would allow it to purchase weapons for use in Iraq. Iran holds the world’s fourth-largest oil reserves and second-largest natural gas stockpile, but has been crippled economically by the sanctions which are currently imposed.Israel and Saudi Arabia share the senators’ concerns and admitted in June to holding five secret meetings to discuss how to stop their common enemy, Iran. http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/iraq-and-syria-biggest-losers-in-iran-deal-say-top-gop-and-dem-senators/article/2568111