“Iran just conducted its first elections since agreeing to the multilateral deal to give up its nuclear weapons program.  While it is true that the Islamic Republic of Iran determines who may run for election, it is also true that the Iranian people turned out in large numbers to support candidates who backed the nuclear deal and want improved relations with the rest of the world.

“To be clear, we have very serious differences with the Iranian regime. The conduct of the recent elections is deeply concerning due to the lack of transparency, censorship concerns, and limited freedom of expression and assembly. Furthermore, Iran's active state sponsorship of terror continues to threaten Israel and to destabilize the region. Moving forward Iran must cease all support to terrorist groups.

“The path forward with Iran will see challenging and uncertain times.  That said, we must not ignore the positive voices in Iran.  These elections do not reflect a revolutionary change in the regime, but they do show that millions of Iranians support progress and that many of them want a brighter, more constructive future for their country. Iran’s leaders must give their people the freedom they so clearly desire. 

“Despite our many disagreements with the Iranian regime, the elections show that our disputes do not, by definition, extend to the Iranian people. I hope that the Iranian government will see the strong desire for reform, be responsive to the will of the Iranian people, and formulate policies that create a better future for Iranians, the region, and the world.” 

“Today, the President announced his plan to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. I have long called for an exit strategy from our use of Guantanamo for detention purposes, and I am encouraged by the President’s plan to responsibly close the facility. I look forward to reviewing the full details of the plan as they become available.

“The President has provided a practicable plan for closing the facility. Congress must now work with the Administration in good faith to effectuate closure. We must start by lifting the current bans on transferring detainees into the United States and on constructing or modifying facilities within the United States to house Guantanamo detainees, bans that have too long served as barriers to closing the detention center.

“The establishment of a detention facility at Guantanamo was misguided from the beginning, and its operation stands in stark contrast to our nation’s values. Today, Guantanamo continues to be an international eyesore that undercuts our national security, damages our credibility with our international partners, and is a colossal waste of taxpayer dollars. The President’s plan offers a responsible way forward that would address security concerns,  pursue criminal prosecutions, and produce net savings on the order of $335 million over ten years and $1.7 billion over twenty years.  It is far past time to end this chapter in our country’s history and to close this facility.”