Following President Biden's expression of condolences for the death of Iran's former president, Republican lawmakers are pressing the administration to take a tougher stance against the Islamic Republic, citing its nuclear ambitions and heightened nuclear activities.
In a bipartisan move, Republican Senators Tim Scott and Mike Lawler, along with Democratic Representatives John James and Josh Gottheimer, have introduced a resolution urging the Biden administration to censure Iran at the next International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meeting. The resolution demands that the U.S. take steps to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and calls for international cooperation on the issue.
The lawmakers cited Iran's recent nuclear advancements and its sponsorship of terrorist groups as reasons for their concern. The resolution condemns Iran's obstruction of IAEA monitoring and verification activities and calls for sanctions on the country's nuclear and missile programs.
Republican Senator Tom Cotton expressed disappointment over the Biden administration's expression of condolences for Iran's former president, saying that it sent the wrong message to the regime. The move, he argued, could embolden Iran and undermine efforts to prevent its nuclear ambitions.
"It's disappointing that the Biden administration would express condolences for the death of a man who was a brutal dictator and a leading sponsor of terrorism," Cotton said. "This sends the wrong message to the Iranian regime and undermines our efforts to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons."
The resolution calls for the U.S. to commit to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and urges the Biden administration to pursue punitive measures for Iran's violations of international non-proliferation agreements. It emphasizes the need for a coordinated international response to address the threat posed by Iran's nuclear program.
"Iran is the greatest state sponsor of terror in the world and there is no greater national security threat than a nuclear Iran," Lawler said. "Unfortunately, a foreign policy of weakness and appeasement has emboldened the Islamic Republic, which is now closer than ever to having nuclear weapons. Enough is enough."
The resolution is cosponsored by several Republican and Democratic lawmakers in both the Senate and House of Representatives, reflecting bipartisan concern over Iran's nuclear activities. The move comes as Iran continues to advance its nuclear program and engage in destabilizing behavior in the region.
In response to Iran's recent nuclear advancements, the IAEA has expressed concern and called on Iran to come clean on its nuclear activities. The Biden administration has been pursuing a strategy of de-escalation and containment, but critics argue that it has failed to deter Iran's nuclear ambitions.
The resolution introduced by Republican and Democratic lawmakers aims to send a clear message to Iran that the U.S. and its allies will not tolerate its nuclear activities. The resolution calls for a robust international response to ensure that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons and uphold nuclear non-proliferation standards in the Middle East and beyond.
