Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, have introduced a bill prohibiting the lifting of sanctions on Iran and preventing the Biden administration from re-entering any nuclear agreement with the country until the U.S. can certify that the Iranian regime has not planned any assassination attempts on Americans for five years.
The bill is co-sponsored by 24 other Republican senators.
It comes after the United States charged a member of the Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Corps in August with plotting to murder John Bolton, the national security adviser to former President Donald Trump.
Mike Pompeo, who served as secretary of state in the Trump administration, was reportedly among the targets of an assassination plot, as well.
The new bill is called the Preventing Underhanded and Nefarious Iranian Supported Homicides [PUNISH] Act.
"It is insane to consider lifting sanctions on a murderous regime to begin with, but to do so while it is actively planning to kill our citizens is even more ridiculous, Rubio said. "The Biden administration must recognize that Tehran is not a worthy negotiating partner, and it does not deserve sanctions relief."
Ernst added: "It's hard to fathom that, after countless attacks on Americans, and multiple confirmed plots against U.S. officials, the Biden administration continues to cozy up to Iran in hopes of a mythical, so-called nuclear deal.
"President [Joe] Biden should not provide a dime of sanctions relief to the largest state sponsor of terrorism, which is actively trying to kill U.S. officials and citizens, at home and abroad. The PUNISH Act will ensure Iran continues to feel maximum pressure from the United States."
Representative Mike Waltz, R-Fla., introduced companion legislation in the House.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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