Reza Aslan

Look, far be it from me to suggest that Congress is full of petty children presiding over a cesspool of wasted space.

Look, far be it from me to suggest that Congress is full of petty children presiding over a cesspool of wasted space.

You do watch. Yes. You can't help but feel that they are actively trying to scuttle this deal. I mean, the negotiation is pretty clear. In exchange for Iran freezing and rolling back its nuclear program, which they've done, we will release a little bit of their frozen assets and also promise not to engage in any new sanctions.

You do watch. Yes. You can't help but feel that they are actively trying to scuttle this deal. I mean, the negotiation is pretty clear. In exchange for Iran freezing and rolling back its nuclear program, which they've done, we will release a little bit of their frozen assets and also promise not to engage in any new sanctions.

This bill that Congress is trying to pass to create new sanctions is a violation of the agreement. In fact, the foreign minister of Iran, a pretty Western-friendly, moderate guy, has said, if this thing passes, that's the end of the deal. It's a deal-breaker. Right.

This bill that Congress is trying to pass to create new sanctions is a violation of the agreement. In fact, the foreign minister of Iran, a pretty Western-friendly, moderate guy, has said, if this thing passes, that's the end of the deal. It's a deal-breaker. Right.

And just you can't help but feel that this Congress is full of people who are less interested in sort of the good of the country than in their own political good. They want to go back to Missoula, Montana, and, you know, tell the 3,000 people who voted them into office that they were tough on Iran and a friend to Israel.

And just you can't help but feel that this Congress is full of people who are less interested in sort of the good of the country than in their own political good. They want to go back to Missoula, Montana, and, you know, tell the 3,000 people who voted them into office that they were tough on Iran and a friend to Israel.

And it might, you know, it's a good, it'll get them reelected for two more years of a fairly cushy job. I mean, you get paid to do nothing. Yes. You know, but it's a danger to the country.

And it might, you know, it's a good, it'll get them reelected for two more years of a fairly cushy job. I mean, you get paid to do nothing. Yes. You know, but it's a danger to the country.

No, and in fact, what cracks me up is that the entire purpose of these sanctions was to get Iran to the negotiating table. Well, guess what? It worked. They're at the negotiating table. So what are we doing now? Sanctioning them as a punishment for coming to the negotiating table? And in any case, these sanctions work because they were international sanctions. Correct.

No, and in fact, what cracks me up is that the entire purpose of these sanctions was to get Iran to the negotiating table. Well, guess what? It worked. They're at the negotiating table. So what are we doing now? Sanctioning them as a punishment for coming to the negotiating table? And in any case, these sanctions work because they were international sanctions. Correct.

They work because we got the Europeans and Russia and even China to go along with them. If this sanctions law passes in Congress, then it is as clear a message to our allies that this is all a joke for us, that we're not really serious about this. And the entire sanctions regime will fall apart. And guess what? Iran will continue to enrich uranium to its heart's content.

They work because we got the Europeans and Russia and even China to go along with them. If this sanctions law passes in Congress, then it is as clear a message to our allies that this is all a joke for us, that we're not really serious about this. And the entire sanctions regime will fall apart. And guess what? Iran will continue to enrich uranium to its heart's content.

And they will erode it anyway.

And they will erode it anyway.