Republicans unveil Iran China Accountability Act

U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) on Dec. 5 offered legislation that would prohibit U.S. taxpayer dollars from being used to advance a nuclear agreement with Iran until the country severs ties with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and terrorist groups like Hamas.

“There must be no nuclear deal until we can ensure our national security interests are protected,” said Sen. Blackburn, who sponsored the Iran China Accountability Act of 2023. 

Specifically, the Iran China Accountability Act would prohibit obligation or expenditure of any U.S. funds for a nuclear agreement until Iran terminates all agreements involving the transfer of funds from China and terminates strategic security and military partnerships with China; terminates all ties and transfers of cash to Iranian proxy forces, including Hamas; and verifies the destruction of all chemical weapons, materials, and infrastructure, the summary says.

Additionally, the CCP would have to cease the incarceration of Uyghurs, among other provisions in the bill, which also would condemn Hamas-incited terrorist attacks on Israel.

“Iran would love nothing more than to enter into another nuclear deal that props up their terrorist activity and also benefits their fellow New Axis of Evil partner, Communist China,” Sen. Blackburn said. “As Iran and the CCP commit egregious human rights abuses against their own citizens and Iran-backed Hamas enacts horrific violence against Israel, it has become increasingly critical that the Biden administration holds the Iranian regime fully accountable.”

Sens. Hoeven and Tillis are among seven Republican cosponsors of the bill.

“We need to be strong and stand up to both Iran and China. Our legislation will ensure that we hold these two adversaries accountable for their destabilizing activities, support for terrorism and human rights abuses,” said Sen. Hoeven. “Given its attacks against our military and our allies like Israel, its support for Hamas and other terrorist organizations, and its cooperation with China, Iran must never be allowed to have nuclear weapons.” 

Sen. Tillis said that because both Iran and China are guilty of egregious human rights violations, it’s imperative that the United States strongly oppose any partnership between the countries.

“Iran’s continued financial support of terrorism led to the murder of thousands of innocent Israelis just a few short weeks ago, and China continues to imprison and murder Uyghurs in their own country,” said Sen. Tillis. “The United States cannot allow these authoritarian regimes to enter into any kind of future partnership.”