Republicans from the Sunshine State--as well as a leading Florida Democrat--criticized sanctions being lifted off of Iran over the weekend.
While members of the Florida delegation were happy to see four American hostages held by Iran returned, they insisted that the Middle Eastern nation remains a threat.
From her perch as chairwoman of the U.S. House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., denounced President Barack Obama’s deal with Iran over its nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions.
“The president is so intent on seeing this weak and dangerous deal through that he’s allowed Tehran to bully the U.S. around with impunity and is actually paying the regime off with over $100 billion in sanctions relief – money that Iran will undoubtedly use to increase its support for terror and its other illicit behavior,” Ros-Lehtinen said. “Many important U.S., EU and UN sanctions against Iran will be lifted and the UN Security Council resolutions against Iran will be terminated, including the ban against ballistic missile tests which means Iran will be free to conduct even more tests.
“From as early as 2009 and his unwillingness to support the Green Movement, President Obama’s fecklessness with regard to Iran is a result of his fear of upsetting the supreme leader,” Ros-Lehtinen insisted. “He’s ignored Iranian provocations, from illegal ballistic missile tests and countless other violations of U.S. laws and UN Security Council resolutions to Iran’s recent seizure of two U.S. Navy vessels and parading of our sailors around as propaganda. He’s ignored Iran’s destabilizing efforts in the Middle East as well as its support for terror and terror groups like Hezbollah. President Obama has allowed Iran to continue to work against our national security interests in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, and he has allowed Iran to continue to collaborate closely with the likes of North Korea in order to evade sanctions and advance its illicit weapons programs. The president also continues to ignore the regime’s abysmal human rights record.
“Iran is a greater threat to our national security interests than ever before,” Ros-Lehtinen added. “While the President may be content to recede from America’s role on the global stage and abdicate our leadership, Congress cannot shy away from its role and must take immediate and decisive action to reign in Iran’s increasing threat.”
Ros-Lehtinen was joined in her criticism by U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., the ranking Democrat on the House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee. Deutch had broken with the White House over the Iran deal and, on Saturday, he called for other options against Iran, including allowing Congress to pursue sanctions. The congressman also pressed for answers on Bob Levinson, a Floridian who worked for the FBI and DEA who went missing in 2007 during a private investigation case in Iran involving cigarette smuggling. Back in 2013, the Associated Press ran a story insisting Levinson worked for the CIA.
"I am thrilled that the four Americans released from Iran today will be reunited with their families, but I am outraged that Iran still refuses to send my constituent Bob Levinson home,” Deutch said. “ This March will mark nine years since Bob disappeared in Iran. He is the longest held American hostage. The Levinson family deserves to feel the same joy and relief as the families of those other Americans released today.
"With the IAEA's verification today of Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement, the United States and our international partners must ensure every aspect is strictly enforced and that IAEA inspectors are able to carry out the most stringent monitoring and verification procedures. Congress must be kept informed of the status of the deal, and if any violation is found, we must be prepared to act immediately,” Deutch added. "The lifting of sanctions means the Iranian regime will have access to billions of dollars. While we are told this money will be used for domestic purposes, it is absolutely critical that we ensure these funds are not diverted to Iran’s terror proxies, its illegal ballistic missile program, or its efforts to destabilize the region. These dangerous activities have never been part of the nuclear agreement, and we must vigorously enforce all existing sanctions. As a pressing example, there can be no more delays with respect to imposing sanctions for Iran's two recent illegal ballistic missile tests."
Making the rounds on the Sunday morning talk shows, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who sits on the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, also focused on Levinson.
“These people that were being held were hostages,” Rubio said on “Face the Nation” on CBS. “None of them had violated any real laws. In fact, some of them weren’t even charged. One of them was a reporter, the other one was a pastor. They had done nothing. And let me just say, Bob Levinson is still missing. The Iranians know where he is, or we believe they do, and they’re not being cooperative about that. We should not forget Mr. Levinson and his situation.”
“The case of Bob Levinson remains unresolved,” Rubio said on “Meet the Press” on NBC. “The Iranians, I believe, know where he is and they are not cooperating and it is an outrage. We need to continue to remember about him.”
U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., part of the congressional leadership as House senior deputy majority whip, also weighed in as sanctions were lowered on Iran.
"Today is a sad day for protecting America and the world from terrorism and countries who promote and execute such evil atrocities, like Iran,” Ross said on Saturday. "In exchange for Iran's 'compliance' with the poorly negotiated Iran nuclear deal, the U.S. will lift the crippling economic sanctions it had imposed on Iran that prevented it from building a nuclear bomb. These are the sanctions that brought Iran to the negotiating table in the first place. By unfreezing more then $100 billion in assets, Iran will now not only be able to invest more heavily on building its nuclear weaponry, but it will also most certainly further fund terrorist organizations and rogue regimes to kill Americans and innocent victims throughout the world.
"It is absolutely absurd the president believes Iran has complied with the nuclear deal,” Ross added. “Iran has blatantly violated this deal multiple times by conducting missile tests to perfect its nuclear weapons technology, as well as has increased its military presence in Syria and surrounding countries. Iran will no doubt thank us for our 'help' in executing its next terrorist attacks and the construction of its nuclear weapon stockpile.
"I promise I will keep fighting to stop the largest state sponsor of terrorism from harming our country, its people and its allies,” Ross said in conclusion. “I pray God continues to keep us safe.”
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
