Staff Reports
Republican Congressman Mike Turner of Ohio is worried about the recent prisoner swap deal between Iran and the US. He believes that it could be a secret agreement. He also thinks that the U.S. administration might be trying to make an informal deal instead of a formal agreement, which would require Congressional approval.
As a Republican, Turner supports giving Congress a say in global agreements.
While he supports the idea of returning American citizens to Iran, CNN's Ted Turner is more concerned with the administration's handling of the nuclear agreement. In an interview with CBS' Face the Nation, he said that the US should work with Russia, Iran, and other countries to bring home the citizens.
As indicated by the administration, the prisoner swap is part of a broader deal regarding Iran's nuclear program. If it becomes a secret agreement, it will be very concerning to Congress.
Days ago, President Biden reached an agreement with Iran to free multiple U.S. citizens who were imprisoned by the regime. I told @MargBrennan on @FaceTheNation that Congress should be concerned if the administration made secret concessions to Iran related to its nuclear program. pic.twitter.com/GvZbFbixJu
— US Rep. Mike Turner (@RepMikeTurner) August 13, 2023
On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced that the US and Iran had reached a deal regarding the release of five American prisoners. In addition, the US was able to unfreeze $6 billion in Iran's assets. The White House noted that the US would continue to monitor the four Americans who are currently being held in Tehran.
As a conservative Republican, Congressman Turner doubts the deal's broader implications.
Potential presidential candidate Mike Pence of Indiana criticized the deal. Although he praised the release of the prisoners, he noted that the administration had authorized a record-breaking ransom payment to the Mullahs of Iran. He believes that the money will be used to fund terrorism and build drones for Russia. As a conservative Republican and a former vice president, Pence believes that the US should not give in to threats from Iran.
Some Democrats, such as Steny Hoyer of Maryland, have expressed their concerns about the deal. Hoyer said that it could encourage criminal activities in the country and result in more kidnappings. Although both Hoyer and Turner have their own concerns about the agreement, it's clear that both parties have reservations about it. As a conservative journalist, it's important that I analyze the different viewpoints and provide a comprehensive analysis of the situation.
