Lawmakers Fight Back Against Biden’s Iran Plans
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney has spoken out against a congressional letter calling for snapback sanctions on Iran only after the regime enriches uranium beyond 90 percent.
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney has spoken out against a congressional letter calling for snapback sanctions on Iran only after the regime enriches uranium beyond 90 percent.
Those levels, which would be at least 24 times the limit allowed under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), cause grave concern and Tenney has said “this would be too little, too late, and that snapback should be triggered immediately in response to Iran’s persistent non-compliance with its commitments”.
Her statement comes at a time when the Biden administration is growing closer to an interim agreement with Iran as the October deadline to the expiration of sanctions draws nearer.
“Signaling to the Islamic Republic of Iran that it should only face consequences for its reckless nuclear extortion if it reaches the dangerous threshold of 90 percent weapons-grade nuclear enrichment is deeply concerning,” said Tenney.
“Iran is already enriching uranium at 24 times the limit allowed by the JCPOA – the time for action is now, not after Iran blows past the critical benchmark of achieving weapons-grade enriched uranium.”
Tenney recently led a bipartisan letter with Representative Josh Gottheimer encouraging the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany (E3) to initiate snapback sanctions on Iran under United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2231.
“Threatening snapback only after Iran reaches the 90 percent threshold also creates a new and dangerous standard that Iranian enrichment up to 89.9 percent is somehow acceptable. Let me be clear: it is absolutely not acceptable. We need to stop moving the goalposts and start increasing the pressure. The time for snapback is now,” she said.
Her calls are being echoed across the spectrum. Presidential candidate, Senator Tim Scott, has also urged bipartisan action to intervene in the Biden moves to placate Iran.
“The Obama administration tried to bypass Congress in negotiating the deeply flawed JCPOA. We responded by passing bipartisan legislation to require them to submit any nuclear deal with Iran to Congress for review,” he said.
“Now the Biden Administration is using the same playbook. I joined my colleagues in introducing a backstop to require any deal that lifts sanctions on Iran be submitted to Congress. Now is not the time to weaken our stance against the Iranian regime.”
There is growing concern the Biden Administration will use unwritten informal agreements to circumvent the requirement for congressional review under US law. This week, Senators Jim Risch, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Bill Hagerty, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led colleagues in reintroducing the Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act (ISRRA), a bill to ensure that the president submits any sanctions relief relating to Iran for congressional review.
The legislation would provide a backstop if the Executive Branch attempts to evade the legal requirements for congressional review of any agreement related to Iran’s nuclear program contained in the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (Public Law 114-17).
“As the Biden Administration contemplates another enormous cash windfall to the Iranian regime in exchange for dubious non-proliferation promises, it is vitally important that Congress has a voice in any sanctions relief,” said Risch.
He stressed Iran’s ongoing support for Russia in its war on Ukraine, incidents which have led to deaths of US citizens and plots against former US officials, and the brutal suppression of protests since September, as reasons the regime is dangerous. “Congress has an obligation to ensure that sanctions relief does not fund these appalling activities,” he said.
Hagerty, one of 33 senators pushing for greater controls over the president in dealings with Iran, said checks and balances on any deal for sanctions relief, are a must. Warning of the consequences, he said: “As Iran’s terror-sponsoring regime continues to pursue nuclear weapons to harm Americans and our regional partners and allies, it is critical to provide insurance if President Biden keeps trying to run around Congress and relieve sanctions on Iran.”
