Cornyn, Brownback introduce bill to back regime change in Iran

Two Republican senators have introduced a bill to "fully and publicly support efforts of the Iranian people to oppose and remove the current regime."

The Iran Democratic Transition Act was announced Thursday by Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), the same day that the Islamic Republic celebrated the 31st anniversary of the revolution and also the same day that Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), GOP Whip Jon Kyl (Ariz.), Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) introduced a bill that would slap sanctions on Iranians who violate the human rights of other Iranians.

Cornyn and Brownback's bill -- citing human-rights violations, nuclear weapons pursuit, support of terrorism and "belligerent rhetoric regarding attacks on both Israel and the United States" -- not only backs regime change but advocates it. Both are positions the Obama administration has shied away from as the White House continues to pursue diplomatic avenues to convince Iran to halt its uranium enrichment.

Iran, which claims its nuclear program is for peaceful energy and medical purposes, has ignored White House deadlines and pushed forward with its uranium enrichment efforts.

Cornyn and Brownback's bill would authorize non-military assistance to pro-democracy Iranian opposition groups, create a special envoy for democracy and human rights in Iran, explore a mulilateral regional framework on human rights, and require President Barack Obama to submit two reports to Congress detailing both the implementation of the bill and a plan to back the Iranian people "following the establishment of a transitional government in Iran."

The legislation states that U.S. policy should be "to fully and publicly support efforts of the Iranian people to oppose and remove the current regime and transition to a freely elected, open, and democratic government in Iran."

“Never has the cause of freedom in Iran been more urgent," Cornyn said. "In a free and democratic Iran, national leaders would never do what Ahmadinejad did today: celebrate the enrichment of uranium in defiance of the entire international community. I urge Majority Leader Reid and my other colleagues to quickly take up this legislation to help the Iranian people pave the way for freedom and democracy in Iran."

"The biggest problem with Iran is not weapons or terrorism but the regime itself," Brownback said. "This legislation would put the United States firmly and unequivocally on the side of the Iranian people."

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