ICYMI: Ernst Seeks to Solidify Sanctions on Iran Amid Assassination Plots on U.S. Officials, Nuclear Deal Discussions

WASHINGTON – Last week, on the same day Iranian President Raisi addressed the U.N. General Assembly in New York and as thousands of Iranians protested the regime’s barbaric rule in the streets, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Representative Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) led an effort to solidify U.S. sanctions on Iran until the terrorist state ends their open assassination plots against Americans.

Radio Iowa reported on the senator’s new legislation: “President Trump’s aggressive stance toward Iranian terror deterred our adversaries and secured our homeland. The Biden administration’s foolish and fanciful pursuit of peace, through appeasement must be stopped.”

In their coverage of Ernst’s bill, the Washington Free Beacon highlighted a testimony from Gen. Stephen Townsend in which he warned Congress that a new nuclear deal would strengthen Iran’s terror network, which is actively trying to assassinate U.S. citizens in the homeland: “Gen. Stephen Townsend, who led U.S. Africa Command until August of this year, in March warned Congress that Iran is certain to use "at least some of the resources gained from sanctions relief to" increase its illicit shipment of advanced weapons to terror groups operating in Africa and the Near East region, according to written information he provided to Sen. Joni Ernst (R., Iowa) after a public hearing before Congress.”

In a report on the PUNISH Act, ABC News pointed to high-level government officials who are currently under government protection due to ongoing threats from Iran: “[John] Bolton and several top Trump administration officials, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former Defense Secretary Mark Esper, still receive government protection due to ongoing threats from Iran.”

KMALand reported on Ernst’s comments condemning the Biden administration for their misguided attempts to appease Iran: "President Biden's negotiations pacify, rather than hold Iran accountable," she said. "All of this occurs without fears of retaliation from the United States, and demands action by Congress to safeguard our homeland."

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