U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, blasted the Obama Administration’s “failed policy toward the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
“It has been less than one month since the Administration secured its nuclear deal with Iran, and despite assurances from President Obama, Secretary Kerry, and others that this agreement could strengthen Iranian moderates, weaken hardliners, and open a new era of better relations between our nations, the opposite seems to be happening,” said in a statement on Monday.
“In just the past few weeks, the Iranian regime has reportedly begun to send hundreds of additional forces to Syria to prop up the murderous Assad regime together with Russia. Iran is moving forward with plans to acquire the Russian S-300 air defense system, one of the most advanced in the world. It has tested a new advanced long-range ballistic missile in violation of a United Nations Security Council resolution. And perhaps most disturbingly, Iran has convicted an American journalist, Jason Rezaian – one of four Americans being held in Iran – on trumped-up espionage charges in a secret trial with no evidence whatsoever,” continued McCain.
“Is this the progress that proponents of the Iran deal promised? Unfortunately, Iran’s increasing malign behavior in the past few weeks is the dangerous, yet predictable consequence of the Administration’s long habit of ignoring and downplaying the broader threat that Iran poses. The President needs to give up on his failed policy of acquiescing to Iranian power and start doing significantly more to counter it,” concluded the senator.