Ernst Equips Middle East Partners to Defend Against Iran-Backed Attacks at Sea

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), co-chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus, included a provision to enhance cooperation with our Middle East partners and increase the ability to interdict maritime threats in the region that will become law in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024.

“As Iran-backed terrorist proxies increase their attacks in the Middle East and threaten our servicemembers, I am proud to take action to defend against these threats and protect American lives,” said Ernst. “It’s America first, but never America alone. By enabling the U.S. to increase security cooperation with our partners and allies in the Middle East, we can deter Iran and its proxies and work towards a more prosperous region. With the world imploding, this key legislation could not come at a more important time.”

Ernst’s bipartisan Maritime Architecture and Response to International Terrorism in the Middle East (MARITIME) Act,co-led with Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), requires the Department of Defense to develop a strategy with partners and allies in the Middle East to counter seaborne threats posed by Iran, violent extremist organizations, and criminal networks. An integrated maritime security architecture will expand U.S. intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance capabilities, as well as operational coordination in the region to defend against common threats.  

Background:

Last year, Ernst’s Deterring Enemy Forces and Enabling National Defenses (DEFEND) Act was passed into law. Through its strategy to establish an air and missile defense architecture with Israel and other Middle East partners to protect the region from attacks by Iran and Iran-backed extremist groups, the DEFEND Act has been critical in enabling America’s ability to intercept hostile fire.

In the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks on Israel by Iran-backed Hamas, Ernst has been steadfast in her support of Israel. Immediately following the attacks, she met with Israeli leaders – including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – and American citizens in Israel. Upon her return to the U.S., she continued to express solidarity with the Israeli people both on the Senate floor and at the March for Israel on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Ernst has worked to hold Iran and their terrorist proxies, including Hamas, accountable by demanding Biden freeze Iranian assets and enforce sanctions against Iran to prevent the regime from fueling and funding terrorist proxies. She has also worked to redesignate both Iran-backed Houthis and Hamas as terrorist organizations.

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