Lifting Iran Sanctions Without Full Review Would Be 'Irresponsible,' Lawmaker Says
The Biden administration needs to conduct a full review of its current sanctions against Iran before lifting any of the designations as part of a potential nuclear deal, said Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. McCaul pointed to the requirements under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which states the administration must conduct the sanctions review before Aug. 2.
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The lawmaker said he is concerned the U.S. is “considering significant sanctions relief related to Iran’s malign activities to reach a nuclear deal with” the country. “I respectfully urge you to conduct the review required under Sec. 108 before lifting any sanctions related to Iran,” McCaul said in an April 27 letter to the White House. “It would be irresponsible and dangerous to lift sanctions related to Iran’s malign activities without first having a full understanding of the reach of Iran’s threat networks and the regime’s enablers.”
The White House didn’t comment. McCaul and other committee Republicans have also urged the administration to submit to Congress any new deal reached with Iran to allow lawmakers to “review and assess” it (see 2106150029).