WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued this statement following President Rouhani’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York:

“While I welcome the statement by President Rouhani that Iran is seeking a peaceful and diplomatic path, I was disappointed by the overwhelmingly antagonistic rhetoric that characterized his remarks,” Menendez said. “In passing four U.N. Security Council resolutions, the international community has spoken against Iran’s nuclear program and charted a peaceful path forward. Iran should understand that while our goal is a diplomatic solution, we are nonetheless resolved to take whatever action is necessary to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear weapons capability and words must be followed by action in the form of a credible and verifiable agreement to terminate Iran’s nuclear weapons program.”