Staff Reports
In a surprising turn of events, over 60 House Democrats have joined forces with dozens of Republicans to put pressure on President Joe Biden over his handling of the rising threat from Iran. In a letter dated October 17th, the lawmakers expressed their concern that Iran is continuing to fund Hamas and other terrorist organizations, calling for stronger measures to be taken against the Islamic regime. Led by Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), and Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), the bipartisan group of 113 lawmakers urged the administration to cut off Iranian funding sources and impose maximum sanctions.
Dozens of Democrats Turn on Biden, Say He Isn't Doing Enough to Stop Rising Threat 👇https://t.co/pMZXHwlDvQ
— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) October 17, 2023
The letter specifically highlighted the need to end Iran’s lucrative oil trade with China, which currently brings in $150 million per day in revenue. It also emphasized the importance of preventing the United Nations sanctions on Iran’s ballistic missile program from expiring. Moreover, the lawmakers demanded that President Biden work with European allies to implement snapback sanctions on Iran at the UN Security Council. They also called upon Qatar and Turkey to cease their support for Hamas and expel the terrorist group’s leadership.
The push for a tougher stance on Iran comes as the Senate also expresses bipartisan support for Israel amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) recently traveled to Israel with a bipartisan delegation and promised to pass a military aid package to the country. President Biden, in response to the violence, reiterated his support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas attacks while attempting to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The Treasury Department also released a statement emphasizing its ongoing efforts to counter Iran’s destabilizing activities by imposing over 1,000 sanctions on Iranian officials and proxies such as Hezbollah and Hamas. While U.S. officials have not publicly accused Iran of directly assisting Hamas in the recent attacks on Israel, top Iranian leaders have praised the terrorist group for its assault.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel’s objective is to eliminate Hamas’ political and military rule over Gaza. While a ground invasion is anticipated, no concrete decisions have been made thus far. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the United States and Israel have agreed to develop a plan to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza while keeping civilians out of harm’s way.
With tensions escalating in the region, President Biden plans to visit both Israel and Jordan to demonstrate the White House’s support for Israel and meet with Arab leaders. The joint effort by House Democrats and Republicans sends a clear message to the administration that a stronger approach is needed to address the Iranian threat and secure stability in the Middle East.
