US Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Risch (R-ID), along with other Senate Republicans, have sent a letter to European foreign ministers commending their governments for initiating snapback sanctions on Iran. The letter was addressed to Jean-Noël Barrot, the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs; Johann Wadephul, German Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Yvette Cooper, British Secretary of State.
The senators expressed support for the reimposition of international sanctions on Iran at the United Nations Security Council. They cited concerns over Iran’s nuclear activities and its continued support for terrorism.
In their letter, the senators stated, “While we back diplomatic efforts to restore Iran’s compliance with its International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) commitments, the international community should not allow hollow gestures and cynical threats from Tehran to stop the snapback process. The regime has abused diplomatic processes for years to avoid penalties. Sanctions relief should only be negotiated after snapback is fully implemented. The regime must fully and verifiably dismantle its nuclear program, restore full IAEA access, terminate its support for international terror proxies, and end its ballistic missile program – at a minimum.”
They further wrote, “In light of the soon-returning international sanctions, we need joint interdiction efforts to prevent Iranian proliferation and acquisition of military, missile, and nuclear goods, technologies, and components. In line with returning UN obligations, we hope you will help us fully shutter Iran’s banking sector abroad, including by closing all branches in Europe.”
The lawmakers concluded by emphasizing the need for continued pressure: “More pressure is necessary to ultimately bring Iran back to meaningful and serious diplomatic engagement on the full spectrum of its malign activities.”
The letter was signed by Lankford, Risch, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Roger Wicker (R-MS.), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Tim Scott (R-SC), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Barrasso (R-WY), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rick Scott (R-FL), John Curtis (R-UT), John Cornyn (R-TX), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Jerry Moran (R-KS), John Boozman (R-AR), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (LA.), Mike Rounds(R-SD.), Thom Tillis(R-NC.), Joni Ernst(R-IA.), Dan Sullivan(R-AK.), Todd Young(R-IN.), John Kennedy(R-LA.), Cindy Hyde-Smith(R-MS.), Marsha Blackburn(R-TN.), Kevin Cramer(R-ND.), Josh Hawley(R-MO.), Cynthia Lummis(R-WY.), Roger Marshall(KS.), Markwayne Mullin(OK.), Ted Budd(NC.), Eric Schmitt(MO.), Katie Britt(AL.), Jim Banks(IN.), Bernie Moreno(OH.), Tim Sheehy(MT.), Jim Justice(WV.), Jon Husted(OH.) and Ashley Moody(FL.).
