Ayotte, Rubio press Treasury secretary on concessions to Iran

U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) led their colleagues in pressing Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew to answer questions regarding the U.S. government’s concessions to Iran.

In a letter sent this week to Lew, the senators said they were troubled by the Obama Administration prematurely lifting sanctions against an Iranian bank the Treasury Department once described as the “financial linchpin of Iran’s missile procurement network.”

The senators also expressed disappointment that the administration had made it easier for Iran to conduct U.S. dollar transactions and engage in international business.

“Despite Iran’s increased support for its terrorist proxies, continued ballistic missile development, and hostile acts against Israel and the United States, the administration continues to grant Tehran unwarranted concessions. These concessions are making the deeply flawed agreement even worse,” the letter said.

“We ask you to explain how providing a ‘green light’ to Iran’s ballistic missile program, as well as making it easier for the world’s worst state sponsor of terrorism to do business and make money, serve U.S. national security interests.”

Among the lawmakers who signed the letter were Sens. Mark Kirk (R-IL), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).