Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) recently used his voice and platform to make a racist statement during a Republican-led press conference on the Iran nuclear deal, saying that you cannot translate the phrase "good faith" to Persian (Farsi) because Iranians are incapable of acting on it.

As U.S. negotiators are working around the clock to ensure our return to the Iran nuclear deal, Sen. Risch's diatribe was much more than a pathetic display of bigotry — his words undermined the very credibility of our diplomats, whose assurances of good faith are key to every agreement, and particularly for a new nuclear deal with Iran.

Sen. Risch not only failed his constituents with his racism — he is failing our country and steering it back toward the road to war. This kind of blatant bigotry should not go unnoticed, nor should it ever be tolerated and that’s why we need to speak out today.