Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
Mike PompeoHouse Passes Law To Increase Cyber Security At The State Department The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented By Facebook – All US Adults Now Eligible For COVID Vaccines 2024 Parade GOP Hopeful Conservatives Of The Court MORE puts its support behind Republican lawmakers who want to block President Biden
Joe BidenBiden dismissed Blinken, top officials in refugee cap initial decision: Suicide bombing report hits Afghan security forces Jim Jordan, Val Demings enters screaming match over police during hearing MOREthe ability to lift sanctions against Iran.
Pompeo returns to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to join members of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) in the unveiling of legislation called the Max Pressure Act, which aims to codify the Trump administration’s maximum pressure campaign of sanctions against Iran.
The top diplomat in the Trump administration is seen as a potential presidential candidate for 2024, and the sanctions campaign against Iran imposed during the Trump years is considered an important part of Pompeo’s legacy.
The new legislation, introduced by Rep. Jim Banks (R-Indiana), comes as the Biden administration participates in discussions in Vienna with signatories to the Obama-era nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) . President Trump
Donald Trump St. Louis attorney who pointed gun at Black Lives Matter protesters Chauvin is considering running through the Senate, found guilty as the nation exhales US, says negotiations on Iran are “positive.” withdrew in 2018.
Pompeo will appear with Banks at a press conference outside the Capitol on Wednesday morning.
Banks chairs the RSC, the largest Republican caucus in the House with 154 conservative GOP members. Pompeo was part of the RSC when he served as a Republican congressman from Kansas between 2011 and 2017.
President Biden has said he plans to rejoin the JCPOA, and talks with the signatories and Iran aim to set a path for both sides to return to compliance with the deal, for the US to lift specific sanctions and for Iran to change course. are violations of the terms of the deal.
The majority of Democratic lawmakers support the president’s push to reenact the deal, but Republicans are steadfast in their opposition to lifting any sanctions against Iran.
Pompeo, in his role as Secretary of State, oversaw the imposition of some 1,500 sanctions against Iran. These include the reinstatement of sanctions lifted as part of the JCPOA, as well as more punitive measures against Iranian industries that help fund its support for terrorism and punishment for its human rights violations.
Pompeo is seen as the basis for a possible 2024 presidential run that made significant appearances in New Hampshire and Iowa, while his House campaign committee reportedly donated $ 155,000 to a newly formed political action committee, “Champion American Values.”
The maximum pressure campaign against Iran is seen as one of Pompeo’s most important policies, along with unprecedented support for Israel, whose government has spoken out against the US returning to the JCPOA.
Pompeo spoke out against Biden’s attempt to rejoin the nuclear deal last week at an event in New York City to mark Israel’s Independence Day.
America, which is the noblest force for good and for human rights in the world, cannot allow a return to a situation where the risk to the Jewish homeland is real, and the ability for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. Winning is real, ”he said in comments.
The Max Pressure Act, which will be enacted on Wednesday, says that sanctions against Iran can only be lifted if Tehran complies with 12 requirements set by Pompeo in May 2018, following the US withdrawal from the JCPOA.
These include allowing full international access to observe and inspect Tehran’s nuclear activity, which Iran claims is for peaceful purposes, and abandoning any activity that could be used to develop nuclear weapon materials .
Other demands include that Iran end its ballistic missile proliferation, demands for the release of all US and international prisoners “held on false charges”, and calls for Iran to end its support of groups declared as terrorists and proxy forces in Iraq and Syria, and accountability for human rights violations; among other requirements.
The bill would further limit the president’s ability to grant waiver and permit authorities that allow the circumvention of certain sanctions, which are usually used for humanitarian purposes. The legislation would set sunset clauses on certain waivers and provide for a comprehensive congressional review before sanctions on Iran are lifted.
It also calls for any new agreement with Iran to be submitted to the Senate for ratification.
Proponents of the maximum pressure campaign of sanctions against Iran say the policy works to pressurize Tehran financially and bankrupt its malicious activities, and if left in place long enough it will draw concessions from the Islamic Republic.
But critics say the sanctions have done little to curb Iran’s bad behavior and encouraged it to break the restrictions of the nuclear deal by threatening inspections of international nuclear watchdogs and increasing enrichment of uranium, the main fuel for a nuclear weapon.
The Max Pressure Act is not Republicans’ first step to limit Biden’s ability to negotiate a deal with Iran.
Ranking Member of the Senate Senator Foreign Relations Committee Jim Risch
Jim Elroy RischGOP Lawmakers Block Biden Aid to Palestinians Lack of Cyber Funds in Biden Infrastructure Plan raises eyebrows on The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden shifts on filibuster MORE (R-Idaho) and Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) This month introduced legislation to require Congress to review the executive branch’s proposals to “end or lift sanctions against Iran.”
In February, Sen. Tom Cotton
Tom Bryant Cotton The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented By Facebook – All US Adults Now Eligible For COVID Vaccines 2024 Parade GOP Hopeful Court House Conservatives Hillicon Valley: Biden Administration Sanctions Russia For SolarWinds Hack, Election Interference MORE (R-Ark.) And Rep. Mike Gallagher
Michael (Mike) John GallagherHouse Passes Legislation To Increase Cybersecurity With State Department Republicans See Record Fundraisers In Months After Capitol Breach Bipartisan Lawmakers Signal Support For Biden Cybersecurity Choices MORE (R-Wis.) Introduced a bicameral resolution opposing the lifting of sanctions against Iran “without addressing the full scope of Iran’s malicious activities”, including the nuclear program, the ballistic missile program, the proliferation of weapons , support for terrorism, hostage-taking and human rights violations.