Click here to view Senator Cotton’s interview.
Washington, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today joined Fox News Sunday to discuss Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
In part, Senator Cotton said:
“Iran cannot have the ability to enrich uranium. That is really the critical path to getting a nuclear weapon, so they can't have centrifuges, they can't enrich uranium at all. Because if you enrich to any level, you can ultimately enrich it to weapons grade levels. That is the unified position of the American government and that’s been our position for many years. And again, that’s the example of what strong American leadership looks like. That would be a good, strong deal. Barack Obama's deal allowed them to have centrifuges and a vast nuclear infrastructure to enrich uranium. What you see here is the difference between on the one hand President Trump's America first approach which recognizes the mortal threat that a nuclear Iran poses to the United States and what you might call the blame America first mind-set which blames America for the tensions we have with Iran and says a bad deal is better than going to war, and that is our only other choice. That’s what Barack Obama used to say. President Trump rejects that mind-set and believes it's possible to get a deal with Iran because of the pressure we put on them because of the economic pressure we put on them and frankly because Ayatollahs are scared to death of Donald Trump, and they have been for eight years which is why they tried to kill him last year on the campaign trail. So, we will see what they say to Steve today and whether or not they are willing to change their tune, but President Trump has been very clear, he could not put it more plainly. He has said Iran can make a good deal, and they can live happily without death, otherwise there will be bombing.”
Senator Cotton’s full interview may be found here and below.
Shannon Bream: Thank you very much. Joining us now senator Tom Cotton who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee. Welcome back.
Senator Tom Cotton: Thank you, Shannon, good to be here. First off let me say Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there especially my mom and Anna, my wife and the mother of our two boys Gabriel and Daniel. They are very fortunate to have her as a mom and I'm lucky to have her as a wife.
Shannon Bream: They are, she is very special woman. So, our wishes to her as well. Let's start where Steve left off which is India and Pakistan. We heard this ceasefire and reports last night of explosions, drone attacks, where do we go from here?
Senator Cotton: Well, India and Pakistan have had many conflicts in their nearly 80-year modern history and those conflicts have been magnified in the last 30 years since both of them acquired nuclear weapons. What you saw over the last few days is an example of strong American leadership under President Trump. No country in the world has the kind of relationships and intelligence abilities that we do to give assurances to both India and Pakistan to help them walk back the conflict and get a ceasefire, and try to work through their differences obviously there is a lot still to be mediated especially Pakistan’s support or at least toleration for terrorist groups on its territory but I commend President Trump for once again showing what strong American leadership looks like.
Shannon Bream: Well, there’s a lot of talking going on as well with regards to Ukraine and Russia this weekend. You had European leaders get together apparently French President Macron put President Trump on the phone, they were talking with Zelensky about getting this thirty-day ceasefire starting tomorrow. Russia has responded that they want to start talks directly, starting on Thursday not agreeing to the ceasefire starting tomorrow. Zelensky says unless there is a ceasefire, there is no starting the talking, so where does that go?
Senator Cotton: Well, it is hard to have direct talks about any kind of final settlement in the Ukraine war when Russia is still attacking Ukrainian troops in the forward line of troops and shooting missiles and drones at residential apartment buildings and hospitals. That's why President Trump has said he wants to see a ceasefire so you can move directly to talks. Ukraine is ready to implement that ceasefire. European leaders have called upon Vladimir Putin to do the same. What President Trump wants, and I think what American should ask, is for European leaders to be prepared to step up and do exactly what they are asking the United States to do. To impose sanctions on Russia. To stop taking Russian gas, to freeze and ultimately use the hundreds of billions of dollars of Russian assets in their banks to help support Ukraine and ultimately help rebuild Ukraine. So, President Trump is prepared to lead as he has been on getting a ceasefire in the Ukraine war, but we need to make sure that Europe is doing at least as much on their own part that they asked the United States to do.
Shannon Bream: So, on the topic of negotiations and our role in them, NBC is reporting that this weekend special envoy Steve Witkoff during three high-level meetings with Putin did not use his own interpreter instead using an interpreter from the Kremlin. Michael McFaul, the former U.S. Ambassador to Russia told them this, using the Kremlin's interpreter was quote a very bad idea, that put Witkoff at a real disadvantage. McFaul went on to say I speak Russian and have listened to Kremlin interpreters and U.S. interpreters in the same meeting and the language is never the same. If that reporting is accurate, why would he agree to that?
Senator Cotton: Well first, I don't necessarily credit that reporting but second, Steve Witkoff is a very skilled and capable negotiator, he has the president's total trust and is 100% loyal to the president. He's doing with the president has asked, to try to get Vladimir Putin to the table with Volodymyr Zelensky to get to a ceasefire, so I have confidence that's what he's doing on the Ukraine dispute just like I have confidence in what he is doing right now in Oman negotiating with Iran over its nuclear program.
Shannon Bream: I do want to get to Iran but quickly, one question on China because obviously while we watched to see what happens with Russia, President Xi there spending time in Moscow this week. Reuters reported it this way, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Thursday that their two countries should be quote “friends of steel” as they pledged to raise cooperation to a new level and quote “decisively” counter the influence of the United States. Your response?
Senator Cotton: Well, this goes back years. At the start of the Ukraine war, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin declared an all-weather friendship. And China has been covertly supporting Russia's war in Ukraine through dual use technology, of Chinese nationals now fighting with the tacit acquiescence of communist China. We should not be surprised to see two anti-American dictators working against American interests. President Trump is clear eyed about both of them though.
Shannon Bream: So, let’s get to Iran. As you mentioned we are having talks this weekend led by Mr. Witkoff. Here is what he told Breitbart, he said: “We stated our position. The Iranians cannot have a bomb, they have stated back to us that they don't want one, so we are going to, for the purpose of this discussion take them at their word that is actually how they feel.” Do you take them at their word?
Senator Cotton: Well, I think we can go back to Ronald Reagan’s trust but verify, we had a good conversation with Steve before he left for Oman, we will talk this week when he is back. He has been very clear what President Trump's position is. Iran cannot have the ability to enrich uranium. That is really the critical path to getting a nuclear weapon, so they can't have centrifuges; they can't enrich uranium at all. Because if you enrich to any level, you can ultimately enrich to weapons grade levels. That is the unified position of the American government and that’s been our position for many years. And again, that’s the example of what strong American leadership looks like. That would be a good, strong deal. Barack Obama's deal allowed them to have centrifuges and a vast nuclear infrastructure to enrich uranium. What you see here is the difference between on the one hand President Trump's America first approach which recognizes the mortal threat that a nuclear Iran poses to the United States and what you might call the blame America first mind-set which blames America for the tensions we have with Iran and says a bad deal is better than going to war and that is our only other choice. That’s what Barack Obama used to say. President Trump rejects that mind-set and believes it's possible to get a deal with Iran because of the pressure we put on them because of the economic pressure we put on them and frankly because the Ayatollahs are scared to death of Donald Trump, and they have been for eight years which is why they tried to kill him last year on the campaign trail. So, we will see what they say to Steve today and whether or not they are willing to change their tune, but President Trump has been very clear, he could not put it more plainly. He has said Iran can make a good deal, and they can live happily without death, otherwise there will be bombing.
Shannon Bream: Will you push for it to be put to a vote in the Senate, like a treaty?
Senator Cotton: If President Trump wants that I think you could get the votes for it. Because the reason we rejected on a bipartisan basis—the Obama deal, even Chuck Schumer the democratic leader voted against Barack Obama's deal because it was a bad controversial deal. If President Trump wants to put it forward, I'm confident it would be a strong deal that is fully verifiable and enforceable that prevents Iran from ever getting a path to nuclear weapon.
Shannon Bream: Senator Cotton, thank you very much always great to have you with us.
Senator Cotton: Thank you.