Ruppersberger Reacts to UN Agency Report Regarding Iran's Nuclear Bomb Development

Iran is attempting to develop nuclear weapons, the United Kingdom's Daily Mail reported this morning. The British news outlet cited a report by nuclear watchdog group International Atomic Energy Agency, which published its findings Tuesday, according to United Press International. 

The news didn't sit well with , who in recent months has been critical of Iran's actions. 

“The report from the U.N watchdog agency is incredibly troubling and confirms what we already knew – that the Iranian government can not be trusted," he wrote in a statement. "Iran is violating the Non-Proliferation Treaty that it signed along with other U.N. member nations.  If the Iranian regime does successfully create a nuclear weapon, it could destabilize the entire region and be a daunting threat to security."

The Baltimore County Democrat harkened back to a statement he made weeks ago regarding the  on American soil. Ruppersberger is the ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. 

“... Iranian military allegedly did not care if it killed large numbers of innocent civilians at the same time," he wrote. "The brazen plot shows the Iranian government has absolutely no regard for human life and should not be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon.  The world must come together and increase the diplomatic pressure against Iran to ensure it stops its nuclear weapons development.” 

Iran insists that its nuclear development efforts are dedicated toward energy production. The Tehran Times cites Iran ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh who calls the report, "unbalanced, unprofessional, and politically motivated."