By Office of Senator of Pete Ricketts
OMAHA, NE – Today, (Thursday) U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, joined fourteen of his Senate colleagues to demand answers from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on U.S. action to hold Iran accountable for multiple violations to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Iran agreed to with the Obama Administration.
The letter was led by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and follows reports Iran has not complied with the terms of the agreement. In 2015, the JCPOA was signed by the Obama Administration, Iran, and other countries agreeing to place restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. One condition of the JCPOA included tasking the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure the regime in Tehran adheres to nuclear restrictions. Even with the signed agreement, Iran has proven to be non-compliant as it continues its nuclear enrichment programs.
“The Iranian regime is intent on fomenting terror across the region, as evidenced by its proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah’s, brutal attacks this weekend on our ally, Israel,” the senators wrote. “Now more than ever, you must ensure that you hold the regime accountable for its failure to comply with obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Further, we were disappointed that the administration did not call for a formal censure of Tehran given its continued non-compliance with the IAEA. The Biden Administration has failed to press for concrete action against Iran in Vienna. We are especially disturbed by reports that the United States led efforts to oppose a censure of Iran. As Iran violates its commitments and refuses to comply with the IAEA, your business-as-usual approach to resolving the situation is tantamount to an endorsement of the Iranian regime’s activities.”
In addition to Rubio and Ricketts the letter was also signed Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Rick Scott (R-FL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Mike Braun (R-IN) and Susan Collins (R-ME).