McCaul: Any agreement that 'merely limits' the Islamic Republic's nuclear program is a serious threat to U.S. national security

The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee expressed his objection to the 'potential decision by the government to negotiate with the Islamic Republic' in a letter to Joe Biden, stating: 'I was disappointed by recent news that the White House is seeking a new nuclear agreement with the Islamic Republic without informing Congress.' Michael McCaul expressed disappointment over 'the lack of transparency and consultation by the White House with Congress' and noted that the State Department had not complied with the Foreign Affairs Committee's request for testimony from 'Robert Malley,' the special envoy for Iran. The chairman criticized the government's approach, accusing it of rewarding the Islamic Republic's 'bad behavior' while failing to use diplomatic leverage and military deterrence to prevent the malign activities of the Islamic Republic. At the same time, Michael McCaul emphasized the concerning actions of the Islamic Republic, including provocative uranium enrichment to 60% purity, obstructing investigations by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and its potential plans to increase enrichment to military-grade levels. In this letter, the chairman argues that any agreement that 'merely limits' the Islamic Republic's nuclear program without fully ending it undermines global non-proliferation norms and poses a serious threat to U.S. national security. Michael McCaul pointed out violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions, writing: 'The President should also pay attention to the continued malign activities of the Islamic Republic, including attacks on American forces in the Middle East, seizing oil tankers in international waters, and claims of the Islamic Republic's involvement in assassination attempts on U.S. soil.' Additionally, McCaul accused the Islamic Republic of fueling the war in Ukraine by supplying deadly weapons to Russia in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of adhering to U.S. laws and urged the government to present any agreement or understanding with the Islamic Republic in accordance with the requirements of the 2015 nuclear agreement to Congress. Meanwhile, the White House spokesperson emphasized the importance of 'having open channels of communication,' stating: 'Our policy regarding Iran has not changed, and we have been very clear about this.' Furthermore, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller reiterated that there is no nuclear agreement between Washington and Tehran.