Ernst Urges Biden Admin: Work with our allies on an effective and enforceable arms embargo against Iran ASAP

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, along with Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), is urging the Biden Administration to work with our allies and partners to impose a new arms embargo on Iran.

 

In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Ernst and Hagerty write, “As you know in 2016, the United Nations Security Council extended a ban on the transfer of arms but in a concession to Iran, allowed this ban to expire on October 18, 2020. Despite objections from the United States, our efforts to renew this arms embargo last year at the United Nations were not successful.”

 

They continue, “As we face ever increasing challenges with Iran attempting to build nuclear weapons, terrorize its neighbors, and expand its influence across the Middle East, we must prevent Iran from further threatening the international community. We urge you to renew the effort for the United States to work with our allies and partners on an effective and enforceable arms embargo regime against Iran as soon as possible.”

 

Background:

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

 

Senator Ernst helped introduce a resolution expressing opposition to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and urging President Biden to work with Congress and refuse to re-join the deal without significant reform. She also joined Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) on a bill that would enable Congress to approve—or block—any effort by the administration to suspend or terminate U.S. sanctions against the Iranian regime.

 

Following the U.S. strike in Syria that was reported last week, Ernst said that Iran’s aggression must be countered with a strong, decisive response and that the United States cannot afford to pivot to a weak policy against Iran, like another failed nuclear deal.

 

After reports that Iran is requesting South Korea and Japan to unfreeze a billion dollars in Iranian assets if the United States approves, Ernst called on President Biden to stand up and make it crystal clear that the United States says “no way” to releasing these dollars and strongly advises our partners in Asia not to give into Tehran’s request.