House Lawmakers Urge Biden to ‘Remain Firm’ on Iran

 

Bipartisan letter says Biden should address Iran's 'destabilizing activities'

Dave DeCamp 

Posted onFebruary 12, 2021CategoriesNewsTagsBiden, Iran

As the Biden administration is deliberating on Iran policy, over 100 Republican and Democratic members of the House are urging President Biden to “remain firm” hold Iran accountable for its alleged “destabilizing activities.”

A bipartisan resolution with 112 cosponsors, 87 Republicans and 25 Democrats, was introduced in the House. The resolution expresses support for the “Iranian people’s desire for a democratic, secular, and nonnuclear Republic of Iran.”

The resolution came with a letter sent to President Biden by Reps Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Tom McClintock (R-CA). In the letter, the lawmakers call on President Biden to “remain firm in holding the Iranian government accountable both for its nuclear and other destabilizing activities in the region.”

While the letter doesn’t mention sanctions or the nuclear deal, the call to “remain firm” likely means that the lawmakers don’t want to see Biden give Iran sanctions relief. Iran hawks often call for a stricter nuclear deal that addresses Iran’s so-called “destabilizing activities,” like its ballistic missile program or support for groups in the Middle East.

The Biden administration has been demanding that Iran return to commitments it agreed under the JCPOA. Since the US is the party that violated the deal, Iran is calling on President Biden to act first and lift sanctions.

Iranian officials have signaled a willingness to negotiate and coordinate the actions needed to revive the deal, but the US seems to be in no hurry and is still deliberating on the way forward.

While there appears to be opposition to the JCPOA in the House, back in December, 150 House Democrats signed a letter supporting President Biden’s original plan to return to diplomacy with Iran and revive the JCPOA.

https://news.antiwar.com/2021/02/12/house-lawmakers-urge-biden-to-remain-firm-on-iran/