Congressmen Jerry Carl (AL-01), Robert Aderholt (AL-04) and Gary Palmer (AL-06) have signed on as original cosponsors of H.R. 2718, the Maximum Pressure Act, which was introduced this week.
This effort is being led by Congressman Jim Banks (IN-03) and former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The act would codify and enhance the Trump administration maximum pressure campaign against Iran, impose new mandatory sanctions on the Iranian Supreme Leader’s office, and prohibit the lifting of sanctions against Iran unless they meet all 12 demands laid out in the legislation.
“President Biden and his administration have failed to show strong leadership and get tough on Iran, so Congress is taking action,” explained Carl in a statement.
“I’m proud to join more than 80 of my colleagues and former Secretary Mike Pompeo in introducing legislation to prevent the Biden administration from allowing Iran to continue developing nuclear weapons and threatening the United States’ global and regional security interests,” he continued.
The Maximum Pressure Act is the toughest sanctions bill on Iran ever proposed by Congress.
“Since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, when 52 Americans were held hostage for more than a year, Iran signaled to the rest of the world that they have no interest in conducting themselves in a fair manner,” Aderholt stated. “In the 40+ years since then, the regime in Tehran has not changed its ways, frequently calling for ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel.’ The bottom line, Iran cannot be trusted.”
“The regime only seems to respond to a maximum pressure campaign, and this is why we must do everything we can to make sure the Biden administration does not reenter a deal that ultimately does nothing to stop Iran from building a nuclear weapon,” the dean of Alabama’s U.S. House delegation concluded.
UPDATE:
In a statement, a spokesperson for Palmer said, “Congressman Palmer believes the Maximum Pressure Act continues and expands the successful Trump Administration high-pressure sanction strategy on Iran at a time when President Biden is looking to renter the foolish Iranian Nuclear Deal.”
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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