President Trump announced the United States was withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran Deal. This terrible deal should never have been adopted and faced widespread bipartisan opposition when finalized by President Obama in 2015.
The deal was not in the best interest of America’s national security and foreign policy. And furthermore, it’s adoption process violated the United States Constitution requirement that treaties to be ratified by 60 Senate votes.
Iran cannot be trusted. The Iranian government has time and again proven itself in opposition to U.S. interests, international security, and universal values of liberty. Iran has a history allowing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to serve as a quasi-independent organization within the state’s financial structure. In May 2005, Supreme Leader Khamenei forced the government to privatize large sectors of the Iranian economy. This proved to be a faux liberalization as the IRGC received significant portions of the privatized transfers; rather than true privatization, Khamenei procured a process of wealth transfer from the state to a quasi-state organization. The IRGC now has control of major sectors of the Iranian economy and access to significant wealth to further their nefarious ends.
Last week, President Trump told the World that the United States is treating Iran for what the experts agree it is, the largest state sponsor of terror. I applaud the President’s decision to impose further sanctions through withdrawal from this harmful agreement.
Congressman Daniel Webster represents The Villages in the U.S. House of Representatives.
