Mike Pence

" All right let me waste their -- getting to our next guest. And it's incredibly. Rising stars in their welcome party congressman Mike and the house GOP conference here. Congressman thanks for joining us you Bagram going to be on. -- you wrote a blog posting. A couple of days ago if -- hills blog. We support the people around you also. Would sponsor a resolution. Passed in the house. Condemning. The actions of of this Iranian regime. It seems to me did that presidents. Sharpening toughening language yesterday the president -- I think president Barack Obama is listening to my parents would say do."

" Well -- IA I expect president was listening to the congress not only the house. By almost the unanimous number adopted. Resolution we authored with congressman Howard Berman and Berman a Democrat from California. And and also groups the Senate actually passed the very same. Resolution unanimously. And you know for whatever reason I I'm. I'm grateful. For the president's strong statement. Yesterday I welcome that you know better late than never. But you know I'd like I believe it was extremely important. He continues to be important that the United States of America. Stand. At least rhetorically. With the men and women who are risking their -- in their lives. On the streets of ran on behalf of fundamental human rights freedom free and fair elections and a I was proud to be a part of the work we did on Capitol Hill Friday and I was encouraged to see the president's stronger rhetoric yesterday. Paterson as all America watches. That the protests that play out in the streets the crackdowns. The beatings. The murders. What is the way forward in Iran in here in the well I think the way forward is is first I think it would be important for the administration to stop talking about. The ability of the Iranian people to choose their leaders you've you've heard again. The president yesterday group was talking about you know ultimately it's up to the people of Iran to decide for them to choose their government. Well if anything their horrific events of the last ten days give evidence of the fact Iranian people don't have any choice of these elections were complete fraud. They were perpetrated by the radical dictatorship. In in Iran and now they're enforcing their fraudulent election results with batons and tear gas and bullets. So I think first we need to stop talking about it. For anything other than what it is and and that is a tyrannical dictatorship. The second lady I do believe that as congress acted last week having it be important here. Across the street if this repression continues. For congress to move very quickly in the direction of additional. Sanctions the United States you know they do well to go to the Security Council and at least ask for. Additional sanctions against Iran but we've got a lot of legislation here on the hill -- That is ready to go that would ratchet up. Economic sanctions. By the United States of America we've got legislation that would encourage states and local governments to divest from companies do business in Iran. I really do believe we may have an opportunity and an international basis to bring together. A broad range of countries that would join us. In those types of economic sanctions given the brutality of the last ten days and I think that's the next."

" there's been a lot of talk about what. It's called hot dog diplomacy State Department still standing by their invitations to indices all around the country do you have Iranian diplomats. Come to the fourth of July barbecues. And parties trying to you know reach out to them what your take on the."

" Well I don't believe it would. Be appropriate. For our diplomatic corps around the world to. Engaged in. In routine diplomatic contacts and our our -- and counterparts -- it did seems to me that business as usual. When people are being gunned down in the street beaten down with the times is not appropriate time and actually hoping -- that. In the coming -- days between now and independents day that we may. We may hear some. A different directive from by the State Department and I wouldn't I wouldn't be surprised to hear that."

" Voices saying that Americans following Europe's lead with regard to Iran is that your view."

" Well it it's certainly was with regard this say -- the president last week that. When you have the president France. And leadership of other European countries that are. Openly expressing support for the dissidents in the streets of Iran and openly denouncing the violence and at least for those first five or six critical days. This administration was. While the president was expressing. That he was troubled about the violence -- the people deserve to be respected and heard. We weren't her hearing that on ambiguous expression of support that we heard from president of the United States. In the past from people like Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy. And so you know in in a sense. This in this moment I think Lindsey Graham might added about right. The leader of the free world. In this moment was the follower of the free world but again I I want to say better late than never. I welcome the president's stronger rhetoric. -- yesterday and the important thing now is that we go forward with a -- ambiguous. Commitment to. Rhetorically supporting people that are clamoring for freedom. In Iran into doing what we can't. To economically. Pressured that country to. Give greater respect to the democratic process and their own citizens."

" Carriers and -- have a little time left I want to ask you. That it seems to me as high rated dad it is. Iran's believed that supporting Musab me in its Moore the working class that -- rank and file behind. President Ahmadinejad. Are you seeing a wave dead we can. Help drive that divide amongst them all is amongst the Arabian leaders to help push that regime or should we stay out of its."

" Well I think there'd be no more effective way for the United States they have impact on what does appear to be. To your point group that does appear to be some fracturing within. That the current leadership regime. In Iran I can think of no better way to affect that then strict economic sanctions is legislation by congress marker here on the hill. That would that would put that trade restrictions on. The importation of gasoline. Sales gasoline into around I think they still import about 40% of the gasoline. That they use there Democrat bills about additional sanctions. -- it does seem to me we have a very unique moment here where many across the global community with the exception of places like Russia many crossing global community have been willing to speak in an ambiguous. Can do mandatory terms about what's happening in Iran. We can capture that we can create real. Economic pressure on this regime and I think that probably would be the most effective way to facilitate. The emergence of of any true. Reform movement by I have to tell you I I think -- almost regardless of the outcome. America. It will remember this on Independence Day here in another way. America should always stand for freedom in the world and we should always stand with those. We're fighting for freedom in their country -- and indeed congressman Mike it's house GOP congress here thanks so much for joining us sir appreciate great beyond right thank you."