Salazar Introduces Investigar Act to Investigate Venezuela's Profits From Iran Nuclear Deal

Press Release

Today, Representatives María Elvira Salazar (FL-27) and Stephanie Murphy (FL-07) introduced the bipartisan Iranian Nuclear and Venezuelan Energy, Sanctions, and Terrorism Government Accountability Report Act, or the INVESTIGAR Act. Additional cosponsors of the bill include Representatives Michael Waltz (FL-06), Carlos Gimenez (FL-26), Jenniffer González-Colón (PR-AL), Steve Chabot (OH-01), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02), Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), Alex Mooney (WV-02), Bill Johnson (OH-06), Scott Franklin (FL-15), and David McKinley (WV-01).

The INVESTIGAR Act would require the Biden Administration to produce a report detailing how Venezuela could benefit from a new Iran Nuclear Deal. Specifically, it requires the White House to report on possible benefits to Nicolás Maduro's oil industry, how it might help Venezuela avoid American sanctions, and how it would boost Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations. Under the legislation, the report must be delivered to the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees within 14 days of reaching a nuclear agreement with Iran.

"For years, the Iranian and Venezuelan regimes have bonded over their hatred for the United States. Iran has recruited Venezuela as its proxy for terror, even supplying their government with advanced drones to use against the U.S., Colombia, and Jewish communities throughout the Western Hemisphere," said Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar. "Not only would a new Nuclear Deal arm an American enemy with nuclear weapons, but it would also empower Nicolás Maduro in our own region. If President Biden follows through with the new deal, he must understand the disastrous external impacts the negotiation will have within our own region."

"As the Biden administration considers whether or not to re-enter the nuclear agreement with Iran--alongside Russia and China--it is critical that the administration consider, not only the potential advantages of the deal to U.S. national security, but also the very real disadvantages," said Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy. "Unfreezing Iranian assets could enable Iran to increase support for terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and for the murderous Maduro regime in Venezuela. The U.S. needs to be clear-eyed about these threats and their impact on our security and the security of our allies."

"Any nuclear deal with the Iranian regime will directly benefit the Maduro regime, posing a direct threat to the United States, the Western hemisphere, and the world," said Congressman Michael Waltz. "For years, Iran has helped support the Maduro regime both militarily and financially. It's critical Congress and the American people know exactly how that agreement would help bolster the Maduro regime, and therefore, threaten our national security, before the Biden Administration considers finalizing a nuclear deal with the Iranian regime."

"There's no doubt any Iran Deal negotiated by Russia and China on President Biden's behalf would help Nicolas Maduro keep his stranglehold on Venezuela. Both Russia and China are strong allies of the illegitimate Maduro regime with Venezuela being an important component of their geopolitical strategy to encroach onto the Western Hemisphere," said Congressman Carlos Gimenez. "Allowing Russia and China to negotiate this deal is a short-sighted and incredibly dangerous strategy. To protect America's interests in our hemisphere, Congress must know exactly how Nicolas Maduro will benefit from any new Iran Deal."

"The U.S. must remain faithful to our commitment to supporting the people who yearn for democracy, and not to fill the coffins of the regimes that oppress them. I support Rep. Salazar's INVESTIGAR Act that will give us visibility into the dangers that can be caused by any Iran-Venezuela nuclear and energy deal, and how it could benefit terrorists groups, circumvent US law, and promote anti-democratic practices," said Rep. Jenniffer González-Colón.

"The Biden Administration's impending Iran Nuclear Deal 2.0 will throw a financial lifeline to Iran and its allies, Russia and Venezuela," said Congressman Steve Chabot. "The more power we give our adversaries, the more we endanger our allies. The American people deserve to know just how bad it is. That is why I introduced legislation to uncover what Russia stands to gain and why Rep. Salazar's Investigar Act is critical -- this Administration cannot let its desperation for a deal allow the Mullahs to prop up Maduro."

"Another flawed Iran deal, brokered by Communist China and Russia, will have disastrous consequences for the United States and our allies," said Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart. "One of the issues that has not been adequately considered is how a deal with Iran will prop up other adversaries, such as the Maduro dictatorship, and help them to evade sanctions. This important legislation requires the administration to report on the consequences of sanctions relief and other concessions to Iran, including how the flawed Iran deal would affect key American national security interests in our hemisphere."

"The U.S. has no business engaging in a new nuclear deal with Iran, especially if it means the Maduro regime could stand to benefit from it," said Congressman Scott Franklin. "The relationship between Venezuela and Iran poses a major threat to the U.S. and the American people have the right to know how any nuclear agreement with Tehran could impact us in the Western Hemisphere. I'm proud to join Rep. Salazar and my colleagues to ensure that we hold the Biden Administration accountable."

BACKGROUND:

At the beginning of the Chavista revolution in the early 2000s, Hugo Chavez and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad created an anti-American bilateral pact, or an "axis of unity" against the United States. Since then, Maduro's socialist regime has continued to cozy up with the Iranian regime, actively supporting the actions of Hezbollah and Iran through intermediaries connected to the Middle East through frontmen like Alex Saab and Tareck El-Aissami.

Iran continues to reaffirm its commitment to Venezuela, propping up Maduro's blood-stained oil industry after production has decreased by over 2.5 million barrels per day by importing crude oil to the regime. Iran has also given Venezuela military and surveillance equipment, including 12 Ghod Mohajer drones, to use against the U.S. in its own hemisphere.