HYDE-SMITH COSPONSORS IRAN CHINA ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
Measure Protects American Taxpayers’ Interests as Iran & Communist China Strengthen Ties
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today announced she has added her name to the Iran China Accountability Act, a measure to ensure American taxpayer dollars aren’t spent on any iteration of a new Iran nuclear deal until that tyrannical regime severs its ties with Communist China and terrorist groups like Hamas.
The measure, S.4290, also reaffirms the need for the U.S. Senate to ratify any agreement reached on Iranian nuclear weapons ambitions. While the Biden administration attempts to negotiate such a deal, Iran is strengthening its ties to the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
“The American people are dubious of the Biden administration’s diplomatic outreach to Iran, because they understand that the regime is a threat to our national security and to our friends in the Middle East. Iran’s growing ties with China only solidify those concerns,” Hyde-Smith said. “This measure attempts to ensure that our interests come first, not some nuclear agreement that would enrich Iran and China in the end.”
As the Biden administration launched its effort to reestablish an Iran deal last year, Iran and the PRC signed a 25-year, $400 billion strategic economic agreement to advance Chinese influence in the Middle East. Despite an international sanctions regime, the PRC is the largest customer for Iranian oil.
The Iran China Accountability Act:
• Requires any nuclear agreement to be ratified by a two-thirds vote of the U.S. Senate.
• Prohibits obligation or expenditure of any U.S. funds for a nuclear agreement until:
o Iran terminates all agreements involving the transfer of funds from China and terminates strategic security and military partnerships with China;
o Iran terminates all ties and transfers of cash to Iranian proxy forces, including Hamas;
o Iran verifies the destruction of all chemical weapons, materials, and infrastructure; and
o The Chinese Communist Party ceases the incarceration of Uyghurs.
• Requires a report from the Secretary of State to Congress detailing how any future agreement with Iran meets each requirement listed above.
• Condemns Hamas-incited terrorist attacks on Israel.
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced S.4290, which is also cosponsored by Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), and John Hoeven (R-N.D.). A House companion measure, HR.3465, has been introduced by Congressman Bob Good (R-Va.).
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