Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05), joined by 4 of his House Republican colleagues, sent a letter Friday to President Joe Biden expressing concerns about his decision to drop sanctions against two Iranian missile producers. The letter goes on to urge the President to maintain “a maximum pressure campaign against Iran and disavow further relief of any other sanctions.”

Cosigners: Congresswoman Mary Miller (IL-15), Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10), Congressman Barry Moore (AL-02), and Congressman Bob Good (VA-05).

Congressman Brooks said, “Joe Biden and his administration are appeasing the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. Remember not too long ago when terrorists were lobbing bombs into Israel killing innocent civilians? Those bombs were paid for by Iran. The Muslim Fundamentalist Iranian regime regularly lead mass chants of ‘Death to America.’ These people are dangerous, yet Joe Biden is offering them sanctions relief. Going easy on Iran is a grave mistake that will have disastrous results. Biden should show some backbone and ratchet up sanctions on Iran.”

Full text of the letter follows:

October 29, 2021
The Honorable Joseph R. Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President,

We write today out of concern regarding your Administration’s recent decision to drop sanctions against two Iranian missile producers.[1] Further, we request that you reject Iran’s request for $10 billion in sanctions relief as a precondition to any resumption of nuclear talks as well as urge against any return to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) framework.

President Trump rightfully withdrew the United States from the 2015 JCPOA agreement and imposed nearly 1,500 sanctions to ensure maximum pressure on Iran.[2] As part of its maximum pressure campaign, the Trump Administration imposed sanctions on Mammut Industries and its subsidiary Mammut Diesel for “providing support to Iran’s ballistic missile program.”[3] Earlier this month, your Administration inexplicably removed those sanctions.[4]

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said that he had conveyed indirectly to U.S. officials at a United Nations summit that the United States should unblock at least $10 billion worth of energy assets in a quid pro quo for nuclear talks to resume.[5] Your silence on this matter coupled with the recent financial relief you granted to Mammut Industries and Mammut Diesel, lead us to believe you are considering granting further financial relief to Iran. This is a grave mistake.

The radical new Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, and his cabinet are far less interested in even faking acceptable behaviors than his predecessor. By lifting any of these sanctions, your Administration would be empowering those who have been designated by the U.S. and the international community as participants in illegal and terrorist activity.

Mr. President, I urge you to maintain a maximum pressure campaign against Iran and disavow further relief of any other sanctions. Iran has proven they cannot be trusted. Providing Iran with the financial relief they request will put the United States in a position of weakness for future negotiations, permit Iran to continue their nuclear conventional build up, and line the pockets of extremists.

Sincerely,

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