North Indy News

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) has joined U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and most Senate Republicans in sending a letter to European foreign ministers, expressing support for the recent decision by the United Kingdom, France, and Germany to reimpose international sanctions on Iran through the United Nations Security Council.

The letter was addressed to Jean-Noël Barrot, French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs; Johann Wadephul, German Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Yvette Cooper, British Secretary of State. The senators thanked these officials for their leadership in initiating snapback sanctions against Iran and urged continued pressure until Iran’s nuclear program is permanently dismantled.

“While we back diplomatic efforts to restore Iran’s compliance with its International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) commitments, the international community should not allow hollow gestures and threats from Tehran to stop the snapback process. The regime has abused diplomatic processes for years to avoid penalties. Sanctions relief should only be negotiated after the snapback is fully implemented. The regime must fully and verifiably dismantle its nuclear program, restore full IAEA access, terminate its support for international terror proxies, and end its ballistic missile program – at a minimum,” the lawmakers wrote.

They also emphasized joint action in preventing Iranian proliferation: “In light of the soon-returning international sanctions, we need joint interdiction efforts to prevent Iranian proliferation and acquisition of military, missile, and nuclear goods, technologies, and components. In line with returning UN obligations, we hope you will help us fully shutter Iran’s banking sector abroad, including by closing all branches in Europe.”

The letter concluded: “More pressure is necessary to ultimately bring Iran back to meaningful and serious diplomatic engagement on the full spectrum of its malign activities.”

In addition to Senators Young and Risch, other signatories included John Thune (R-S.D.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), John Curtis (R-Utah), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Lisa Murkowski (R-Ala.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Shelley Capito (R-W. Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), James Lankford(R-Okla.), Mike Rounds(R-S.D.), Thom Tillis(R-N.C.), Joni Ernst(R-Iowa), Dan Sullivan(R-Ala.), John Kennedy(R-La.), Cindy Hyde-Smith(R-Miss.), Marsha Blackburn(R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer(R-N.D), Josh Hawley(R-Mo), Cynthia Lummis(R-Wyo), Roger Marshall(Kan), Markwayne Mullin(Okla), Ted Budd(N.C), Eric Schmitt(Mo), Katie Britt(Ala), Jim Banks(Ind,), Bernie Moreno(Ohio,), Tim Sheehy(Mont,), Jim Justice(W.Va,), Jon Husted(Ohio,)and Ashley Moody(Fla.).

The full text of the letter is available online.