Republicans Take a Stand Against Biden’s Ransom Deal with Iran
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
House Republicans are making their move to block the Biden administration’s controversial $6 billion ransom deal with Iran. This comes as reports of ongoing diplomacy between Washington and Tehran surface, and congressional sources describe it as the first step in the Republican-controlled chamber’s efforts to prevent the White House from freeing up more funds for Tehran.
The resolution condemns various recent diplomatic actions by the Biden administration, which were either hidden from Congress or only revealed after significant pressure and delays. The resolution, exclusively obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, provides a roadmap for Republican leaders to hinder the Biden administration’s diplomacy with Tehran. There are speculations that the United States could release an additional $3 billion in frozen Iranian funds from Japan.
The measure demands that President Joe Biden submit all deals made with Iran to Congress, as required by the 2015 Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act. This act was designed to give lawmakers the power to veto any future deals with Tehran. However, the Biden administration’s hostage deal, reached earlier this month, was crafted without congressional scrutiny. Critics argue that the administration’s tactic of keeping Congress in the dark is both illegal and intended to conceal the extent of American concessions to the Iranian regime.
“Despite their claims of being the practitioners of realpolitik and the adults in the room, Biden’s foreign policy team has failed on the world stage,” says Rep. Darrell Issa (R., Calif.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Issa, along with 27 Republican colleagues, is spearheading the resolution. He adds, “This Congress realizes it’s time to step in.”
The early support for the resolution, which is expected to gain widespread Republican backing, indicates that House Republicans are frustrated with the Biden administration’s diplomacy with Tehran. This diplomacy has allowed the hardline regime to profit billions from oil as the United States neglects sanctions enforcement. The resolution also calls out Biden’s diplomatic team for quietly relaxing oil sanctions on Iran, resulting in the country’s illicit crude exports reaching a five-year high and generating over $44 billion in revenue for the regime.
“This is a real acknowledgment from the GOP conference that we need to give more attention to Iran because this administration is dangerous,” says a senior congressional aide familiar with the matter.
The resolution also paves the way for House oversight bodies to summon senior Biden administration officials for public hearings on the administration’s secretive diplomacy.
In addition to opposing the $6 billion ransom payment in the hostage deal, the resolution expresses Congress’s outrage that Secretary of State Antony Blinken transmitted an agreement with the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism on September 11, the anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack in United States history.
The resolution comes at a time when a bombshell report alleges that a senior Pentagon official, who previously worked alongside sidelined Biden Iran envoy Robert Malley, was involved in an Iranian government-run propaganda network. Malley is currently suspended from his post as the FBI investigates his potential mishandling of classified information.
What concerns do Republican lawmakers have regarding the $6 billion ransom deal with Iran and how do they believe it undermines American interests and strengthens the Iranian regime?
Dministration’s approach to dealing with Iran. The $6 billion ransom deal, in particular, has raised concerns among Republican lawmakers who believe it undermines American interests and strengthens the Iranian regime.
The resolution condemns the Biden administration’s diplomatic actions, citing a lack of transparency and limited congressional oversight. It emphasizes the need for all deals made with Iran to be brought before Congress, as required by the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act. By bypassing Congress in the crafting of the hostage deal, critics argue that the administration is not only violating the law but also attempting to hide the extent of concessions made to Iran.
House Republicans, led by Rep. Darrell Issa of California, are determined to block further funds from being released to Iran. They view the ransom deal as a dangerous precedent that sets a harmful precedent for future negotiations with Tehran. The resolution serves as a roadmap for how Republicans plan to impede the Biden administration’s diplomacy with Iran.
“Despite their claims of being the practitioners of realpolitik and the adults in the room, Biden’s foreign policy team has failed on the world stage,” asserts Rep. Issa. He and his colleagues argue that it is time for Congress to intervene and hold the administration accountable for its actions.
The early support for the resolution among House Republicans indicates their frustration with the Biden administration’s approach to Iran. They believe that the administration’s actions not only neglect congressional oversight but also jeopardize American interests. The resolution is expected to gain widespread Republican backing as lawmakers seek to prevent further concessions to Iran.
The resolution is seen as a critical first step in House Republicans’ efforts to limit the Biden administration’s ability to free up funds for Tehran. It highlights their determination to protect American interests and ensure that Congress has a say in future negotiations with Iran.
As the diplomatic discussions between the United States and Iran continue, the resolution signals a growing opposition among Republicans to the Biden administration’s approach. With a Republican-controlled chamber, it is likely that further measures will be introduced to curtail the administration’s ability to make deals with Iran without congressional approval.
The controversy surrounding the $6 billion ransom deal with Iran has ignited a debate over the role of Congress in shaping American foreign policy. Republicans argue that the administration’s actions undermine the principles of democracy and sidestep the checks and balances provided by the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act.
The resolution serves as a reminder that Congress plays a crucial role in shaping foreign policy and should not be excluded from discussions and decisions of such importance. As the Republican-controlled House takes a stand against the Biden administration’s ransom deal with Iran, it reflects a broader concern among lawmakers about the direction of U.S. foreign policy and the need for greater transparency and accountability in diplomacy.
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