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GOP Lawmakers Launch Investigation into Biden Admin Removing Sanctions on ‘Entities Tied to Iran’s Illicit Ballistic Missile Program”

Iran

Republican lawmakers are concerned that President Biden has removed sanctions to appease Iran. On Thursday, a group of 33 Republican congressmen launched an investigation into the Biden administration’s “decision to remove sanctions earlier this month on entities tied to Iran’s illicit ballistic missile program” reports The Washington Free Beacon.

On October 8th, the Treasury Department removed sanctions put in place by the Trump administration on Mammut Industrial Group and affiliated entities. They were designated by the Trump administration as “key producers and suppliers of military-grade, dual-use goods for Iran’s missile programs.”

The Republican group suspects the “Biden Treasury Department’s decision is part of a package of concessions meant to entice Iran into resuming negotiations aimed at securing a return to the nuclear deal.”

The Beacon writes that although senior U.S. officials dispute the claim, “Diplomatic talks with Iran have stalled since the regime inaugurated a new hardline president, Ebrahim Raisi, who demanded America drop all sanctions on the regime before discussions continue.”

Additionally, Biden’s “Iran envoy, Robert Malley, said last week that the United States is ‘prepared to remove all of the sanctions that were imposed by the Trump administration.”

In the letter sent by the GOP members to the Biden administration, a copy of which was obtained by the Beacon gives the administration 15 days to provide Congress with information on the matter. The letter states:

“We are committed to investigating all sanctions relief provided to Iran and its allies and working to thwart the regime’s long-range strike capabilities…We would like you to verify that the delisted entities are no longer engaged in sanctionable conduct under U.S. law, we also ask what other steps the U.S. government is taking to impede Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities, which pose a grave risk to U.S. forces, facilities, and personnel in the Middle East, as well as key regional allies like Israel.”

“The ballistic missile probe is part of a larger effort by the Republican Study Committee, the largest Republican caucus in Congress, to expose what they say is the administration’s secret dealings with Iran” adds the Beacon.

“We must continue to investigate any sanctions relief provided to Iran, and its allies, to ensure we are combating terrorism in the region and thwarting the regime’s ballistic missile capabilities,” Said Republican Representative Bryan Steil of Wisconsin.

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