U.S. Reps. Leonard Lance (R-NJ), Peter Roskam (R-IL) and Lee Zeldin (R-NY) applauded sanctions announced against individuals and businesses tied to Iran’s ballistic missile program and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Lance, Roskam and Zeldin, the co-chairs of the House Republican Israel Caucus, introduced the Iran Nonnuclear Sanctions Act last week. The measure targeted Iranian support for terrorism, human rights abuses and growth of its ballistic missile program.
“Iran’s latest ballistic missile test was again in total disregard and violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and international law,” Lance said. “For too long Iran has been under the impression that it can test missiles, finance terrorism and abuse its own people without ramifications. I am pleased President Trump took this action. Iran needs to get the message that its provocations will not go unanswered.”
In response to the Trump administration’s announced sanctions, Roskam said it was refreshing to see the White House stand up to Iran’s “illicit activities and belligerent behavior.”
“(Friday’s) sanctions, related to Iran’s support for terrorism and illegal ballistic missile program, should make it clear to the Mullahs they must act like a responsible member of the community of nations if they want to be treated like one,” Roskam said. “Now is not the time for companies to expand business with the Iranian regime.”
Zeldin said the sanctioning of individuals and companies affiliated with Iran’s ballistic missile program and IRGC would help deter Iran’s destabilizing activities, including the recent missile test that violated a United Nations resolution.
“We need to pursue a stronger, more consistent foreign policy, which strengthens our relationships with our allies and treats our adversaries as our adversaries,” Zeldin said. “Our enemies do not respect weakness, they only respect strength. We cannot be silent, not because we want war, but because we want to prevent it.”