All but one of the U.S. House’s six openly LGBT members voted for the multi-nation deal negotiated with Iran to stop its nuclear development program. Guess who didn’t?

Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.)

One day prior to Friday’s vote, Sinema released a statement saying, “the risks inherent in this deal outweigh the rewards.”

“I am concerned that this agreement will escalate a conventional arms race in the Middle East and further destabilize the region,” said Sinema. “The agreement allows financial resources to flow to an Iranian regime, which siphons resources away from its citizens to fund terrorism and foment war. It allows Iran to strengthen its military capabilities, including conventional weapons and ballistic missiles. The Iranian regime and its proxies have made no secrets about how they will use these new resources and weapons in the region.

“While the Iranian regime gets stronger, the [Iran deal] could limit our ability to use energy and banking sector sanctions to counter Iran’s aggression. Instead, our government has pledged to provide additional weapons to our allies in the region, escalating an arms race and increasing the likelihood of an expanded conflict.

“The agreement may push back the time it will take Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon but does not eliminate the threat. At the end of the deal, Iran will have the tools, knowledge, and money to be an internationally recognized, empowered and legitimized threshold nuclear state. This newly created power and legitimacy will make deterring the regime’s aggression more difficult.”

Reps. David Cicilline (D-RIs.), Jared Polis (D-Colo.), Marc Pocan (D-Wisc.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), and Sean Mahoney (D-NY) voted for the deal. In a statement released September 4, Polis said, “I have concluded that this enforceable, verifiable agreement is the best available option to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons…. Even if the United States does not participate, the international community very likely will, and Iran will still receive access to billions of dollars in accounts currently frozen under international sanctions. Not only would this diminish our influence internationally; it would substantially limit our ability to hold Iran to the rigid standard of disarmament set forth in the agreement.

“On the other hand, if we fully participate, we can play a leading role in the deal’s implementation and enforcement and provide ourselves a direct line of access to Iranian facilities. This course of action ensures an influential role for the United States in future developments in the Middle East and, I believe, ensures the greatest likelihood that Iran will not obtain a nuclear weapon.”

The House rejected a bill to approve the deal, by a vote of 162 to 269. The roll call can be viewed here.

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