Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, applauded the adoption of a recent resolution with a 98-2 vote calling for new sanctions on Iran.

The legislation also holds Iran accountable by imposing new sanctions on Iran’s ballistic missile program, applying terrorism sanctions to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, imposing sanctions on Iranians engaged in human rights abuses, and tightening enforcement of arms embargoes on the Iranian regime.

“As the world’s number one state sponsor of terrorism, Iran continues to step up its efforts to destabilize the Middle East, drive the United States from the region, and undermine our security interests and that of our allies,” said Chairman McCain. “It is long past time the United States and the international community hold Iran accountable.”

Prior to the vote Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell referred to the Obama administration’s 8 years of failing foreign policy.

“The Iranians are pursuing a regional strategy intent on empowering Shia militias, Hezbollah, their Houthi proxies and other groups. After years of the Obama Administration’s willingness to ignore Iran’s malign activities and failure to address Iran’s provocations, we finally have an administration that shares our desire to take a stronger approach…

“This legislation will enhance our ability to hold Iran accountable, which is of great importance given Iran’s continued testing of ballistic missiles, its harassment of U.S. vessels at sea, and its support of terrorism across the region,” he said.

Senator Bob Corker, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who introduced the bill also weighed in his thoughts.

“With passage of this legislation, the Senate reasserts congressional authority – while providing the Trump administration appropriate national security flexibility – and sends a clear signal to both Iran and Russia that our country will stand firm in the face of destabilizing behavior and that Congress will play a leading role in protecting our national interests,” Corker said.

Source » ncr-iran