Exclusive–Rep. Ryan Zinke: ‘Iran Needs This Deal,’ Not U.S.

Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) told Breitbart News on Friday that he firmly rejects the nuclear accord with Iran, pointing out that proponents of the deal are engaging in character assassination and bully tactics.

“America doesn’t need this deal; Iran needs this deal. The narrative that if we don’t take the deal, we go to war is false and fear mongering,” the Montana at-large congressional representative said.

Zinke, a U.S. Navy Seal for 23 years before retiring in 2008 to run for office and join the Montana Senate, has been on the front lines of combat against America’s enemies. During the Iraq war, he was acting commander of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force- Arabian Peninsula, and deployed to Fallujah, a city now held by the Islamic State (ISIS).

Referencing the vote of a fellow Montanan–Democrat Jon Tester (D-MT), who supports the Iran deal–Zinke added, “There are some in the Senate and the Obama administration who fail to realize that America has options. I am committed to exploring every one of them while leading the opposition in Congress.”

Rep. Zinke is in Israel this week, where he has met with prominent leaders in the country and discussed the Iranian deal.

“This week, I met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Reuven Rivlin, and retired Israeli Defense Forces Commander General Yadlin about the nuclear deal, and we all agree the deal must be stopped,” he said.

From a security perspective, this deal is bad at the international, national, and local level, the Congressman added.

“This deal allows for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, and a nuclear Iran will put Israel at risk, put Montana at risk, and make the world a more dangerous place, period,” Zinke concluded.