Young, Colleagues Applaud European Sanctions on Iran

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) joined U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and nearly all Senate Republicans in sending a letter to Jean-Noël Barrot, the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs; Johann Wadephul, the German Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Yvette Cooper, the British Secretary of State, thanking them for initiating snapback sanctions on Iran and encouraging them to maintain pressure until Iran's nuclear program is permanently dismantled.

The lawmakers wrote, "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 continued, "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 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 Young and Risch, 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.), 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 (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.) also signed the letter.

Full text of the letter can be found here and below:

Dear Minister Barrot, Minister Wadephul, and Secretary Cooper:

We write to applaud the United Kingdom, France, and Germany for initiating the snapback process to return international sanctions on Iran at the United Nations Security Council. This action was necessary in light of the Iranian regime's persistent acts of nuclear extortion. We commend your leadership and support the successful reimposition of international sanctions and restrictions targeting the Iranian arms industry, its nuclear and missile programs, and its terror and proliferation activities.

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.

Iran's provocative nuclear threats, its reckless attacks with ballistic missile, and its wanton aggression through support for terrorism threaten the entire international community. Once snapback is completed, we look forward to working with you to ensure all UN members states and private actors abide by their renewed obligations and hold Iran accountable.

We understand your governments' hope that diplomacy would eventually succeed in ending Iran's nuclear program, but after decades of the regime's intransigence, its repeated deceptions, and now its open support for Putin's war against Ukraine, we will count on your governments to lead the charge and advance a passionate enforcement of sanctions against Iran - whether at the European Union, in your respective capitals, or in foreign capitals.

We also remain deeply concerned by the funding mechanism of Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program: its oil sales - particularly to China - and smuggling operations via third countries. We appreciate the cooperation your governments have already shown in curbing these sales.

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. Closing off the regime's financial pathways will curb the regime's aggression. More pressure is necessary to ultimately bring Iran back to meaningful and serious diplomatic engagement on the full spectrum of its malign activities.

Thank you again for your leadership at this pivotal moment. We look forward to continued cooperation to ensure the full reimposition of sanctions on Iran and to achieve our shared objective: a permanent dismantlement of Iran's nuclear program, the elimination of its uranium enrichment capability, the termination of its support for international terror proxies, and the end of its ballistic missile program.

Sincerely,