Ernst Backs Effort to Sanction Iranian Leadership

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a combat veteran and outspoken opponent of the failed Obama-Biden Iran Nuclear Deal, is backing an effort to impose human rights sanctions on the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the regime's President Ebrahim Raisi.

 

“Iran’s top leaders have abused their power and enriched themselves while overseeing the execution of Iranian citizens; mass arrests of journalists, lawyers, and American citizens; and, the proliferation of terrorism in the region,” said Senator Ernst. “Iran cannot be trusted, and instead of attempting to rejoin the failed Iran Nuclear Deal, the Biden Administration should be holding Iranian leadership accountable for their malign activities.”

 

Background:

Following reports that the Biden Administration wants to suspend sanctions leverage over Iran in exchange for rejoining the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Senator Ernst said, “…the U.S. should be nowhere near re-entering the original Iran Nuclear Deal.”

 

Ernst joined 29 of her Senate colleagues in calling for the U.S. to oppose lifting sanctions against the country. Ernst urged the Biden Administration to work with our allies and partners to impose a new arms embargo on Iran.

 

Earlier this year, Ernst helped introduce a resolution expressing opposition to the JCPOA and urging President Biden to work with Congress and refuse to re-join the deal without significant reform. She also joined an effort that would enable Congress to approve—or block—any effort by the administration to suspend or terminate U.S. sanctions against the Iranian regime.

 

In addition, Ernst helped introduce legislation that would curb President Biden’s ability to re-enter the JCPOA.

 

Ernst has been outspoken in calling on the Biden Administration to make it a top priority to keep our nation and the world safe from the threat of Iran, penning an op-ed in the Washington Examiner.