WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) questioned Undersecretary for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon of the State Department about the Obama administration’s failure to adequately respond to Iran’s dangerous behavior in the region. Shannon was testifying before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing.
On Iran’s ballistic missile program:
“I think we all agree when you said, we’re opposed to what’s happening with ballistic missile testing. You want to do everything in your power to delay and deter it—we just have questions if that’s actually happening with this administration.
“I don’t believe it is. I think that the administration is not doing all that it can. I look at the recent sanctions, and I think Senator Menendez referred to it as playing whack-a-mole. There are sanctions are individuals, some entities.
“Can you tell us today that those recent sanctions are actually going to change Iran’s calculus, actually have an impact on Iran’s ballistic missile program given that they’ve done testing in October, testing in November, in March last month, two successful days of ballistic missile testing?
Follow up:
“I think what you’re hearing here, is that the Congress believes that the administration needs a stronger backbone and legislation to allow you to accomplish the goal that you had to delay and deter.
Click here for video of Barrasso questioning Shannon on Iran’s ballistic missile program.
On Russian weapons sale to Iran:
“With regard to the Russian sale to Iran, it came up earlier the chairman raised the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 requires the Security Council approval of any sale of major combat systems to Iran.
“So Russia and Iran have been discussing an agreement for Russia to sell to Iran Su-30, the combat aircraft, T-90 tanks, helicopter gunships.
“Just to clarify, would the United States veto the approval of such a sale at the UN Security Council?
Follow up:
“Can you talk about how the sales of the systems contemplated that they’re talking about to Iran could affect the balance of power in the region?
Click here for video of Barrasso questioning Shannon on Russian weapons sales to Iran.
On administration’s concessions to Iran:
“I want to talk a little bit about terror in the area. Iran is a state sponsor of terror, continuing to threaten Israel.
“We’ve heard that from a senator who’s just returned from the region, continues to threaten the region with ballistic missile testing.
“It appears that the administration can be afraid of Iran threatening to pull out of the nuclear deal –truly believes that foreign countries, businesses might risk ties to the United States.
“You read The Wall Street Journal Editorial this weekend called ‘More dollars for the ayatollahs.’ It says ‘This latest administration cave-in could have been predicted from every previous U.S. capitulation to the mullahs. Expect other concessions as Tehran takes the full measure of America’s weakness.’
“That’s a concern. So what other actions do you know that the administration is considering that could provide additional sanctions relief to Iran beyond what has been committed by the JCPOA?
Follow up:
“Just want to get this clarified, what I’ve heard from the chairman and others in a bipartisan way is that many of us believe that it’s the administration that gave away everything up front. You’re testifying today that no, no, in fact it was Iran that gave up everything up front?”
Click here for video of Barrasso questioning Shannon on concessions to Iran.
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