Should he become president in 2016, Marco Rubio “absolutely” would defy European allies and revoke any Iranian nuclear deal he might inherit from President Obama.
Even if Britain, France and Germany — along with Russia and China — agree with the U.S. on a nuclear deal with Iran, the next U.S. president “should not be bound” by it, the Florida senator and potential Republican presidential nominee told the Associated Press.
“The United States, although it’s less than ideal, could unilaterally re-impose more crushing and additional sanctions,” Rubio said, adding he would also try and “use the standing of the United States on the global stage to try to encourage other nations to do so.”
Though a lot of pieces would have to fall into place for this to happen, Rubio held strong.
“I have zero doubt that between now and the next president, Iran will violate some condition of this deal,” Rubio said. “The challenge will be whether the European community and our allies around the world are willing to look the other way and ignore them or are willing to re-impose sanctions.”
Rubio, often outspoken on his foreign policy visions, was one of the 47 GOP senators who signed a letter to Iranian leaders, warning that Congress has to approve a deal with Iran for the deal to be valid. Rubio, a freshman, also serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
According to a RealClearPolitics average of polls, Rubio has five points, placing him seventh among a crowded Republican field. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush — who issued a statement of support for the GOP letter to Iran — polls first with 16.6 points.
