House Speaker John Boehner defended Wednesday his move to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress, accusing President Obama of ignoring the threat posed by Islamic extremists and Iran.
“There is a serious threat that exists in the world and the president last night kind of papered over it,” the Ohio Republican said Wednesday after a closed-door meeting with fellow House Republicans. “There needs to be a more serious conversation in America about how serious the threat from radical jihadists and the threat posted by Iran.”
Earlier Wednesday, Boehner announced he was inviting Netanyahu to address Congress “on the grave threats radical Islam and Iran pose to our security and way of life.”
The move comes as Republicans and some Democrats are stepping up demands for legislation that imposes sanctions against Iran over its sponsorship of terrorism in the region and its efforts to build a nuclear weapon. In the Senate, proponents say they are building a veto-proof, bipartisan majority for a sanctions bill.
Obama, who is attempting to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran, has threatened twice to veto Iran sanctions legislation, once on Friday and again in his State of the Union address. Obama warned that sanctions would make it more difficult, if not impossible, to negotiate with Iran and said talks so far have helped to halt the nation’s move toward building a nuclear weapon.
But critics say the United States is taking a too-soft approach with Iran and that the deal will allow the country to advance its ability to build a nuclear bomb.
“He expects us to stand idly by and do nothing while he cuts a bad deal with Iran,” Boehner said to Republicans Wednesday, according to GOP aides. “Hell no, we’re going to do no such thing.”
Boehner said the House will hold hearings on legislation to sanction Iran but said the timing is “to be determined.”
