Dear Granite Stater,
The $400 million the Obama Administration delivered to Iran is bad enough. It's another in a series of White House concessions to the Islamic Republic, beginning with secret letters to the Ayatollah, soon after the President took office. As part of their agreement, which paved the way to a nuclear Iran, he also directed $150 billion of frozen assets, because of U.S. economic sanctions, to the regime.
Iran could potentially use the money to fund international terror operations, admitted Secretary of State John Kerry and the White House Press Secretary. Until recently, those operations included bombing American soldiers in Iraq. Now, the President's "lead from behind" strategy -- a reversal of U.S. leadership -- means American troops are supporting our former enemy in Iraq, Syria and more.
Last week at a press conference, the President refuted his top staff, as well as evidence pointing to a ransom, explaining that even Israel -- a country Iranian leaders regularly threaten with destruction -- supports his nuclear deal. Israel cabinet members quickly dismissed the idea, repeating their concerns about Iran's evil intentions.
The Wall Street Journal reports the timing of a shipment of foreign currency to Iran happens to coincide with the release of several American prisoners. The payment was just the first of others, amounting to $1.7 billion the Administration claims the United States legally owes Iran, as the result of a hastily concluded settlement around the time of the nuclear deal.
Despite its humiliating concessions, the Administration was never able to secure the release of four American citizens, until it paid an extra sum. Iran boasted about the victory in state propaganda, took more hostages, test-launched ballistic missiles, and continues its threats against the U.S. and allies.
A popular one is "Death to America." I refused to go along with the Iran charade, when Republicans and Democrats in Congress allowed the President's deal to move forward. On the the Financial Services Committee, I also oversee economic sanctions and voted to restore them. I voted to bar Iran from the U.S. financial system, as well as the purchase of heavy water from Iran.
Because of "side deals" and more secrecy, we are still discovering the true magnitude of the Administration's agreement with Iran, an untrustworthy partner. The truth is that negotiating with the radical regime, whose only goal is a nuclear weapon, was always a dangerous idea.
Best regards,