Sen. Johnson Joins Sen. Risch, Colleagues in Applauding E3 Snapback Sanctions on Iran

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and 48 of their colleagues in sending a letter to Jean-Noël Barrot, French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Johann Wadephul, German Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Yvette Cooper, British Foreign Secretary, thanking them for initiating snapback sanctions on Iran and encouraging them to keep up the pressure until permanent dismantlement of Iran's nuclear program is achieved.

"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 cynical 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 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.

"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 lawmakers continued.

"More pressure is necessary to ultimately bring Iran back to meaningful and serious diplomatic engagement on the full spectrum of its malign activities," the lawmakers concluded.

Sens. Johnson and Risch were joined by U.S. Senators 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.), 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.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), 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 (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Jim Justice (R-W. Va.), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), and Ashley Moody (R-Fla.).

The full text of the letter can be found here.

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