Mitch McConnell Calls Nuclear Deal a 'Windfall' Gift for Iran

Mitch McConnell, the leader of the majority in the U.S. Senate, emphasized U.S. support for Israel while criticizing the nuclear agreement between world powers and Iran, calling it a 'windfall' gift for Tehran. According to the Associated Press, Mr. McConnell stated on Tuesday, April 8, at the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), 'But today we can have a different approach. Today we can confront Iran's actions in funding, training, and arming terrorists such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and their proxies in Syria.' Senior U.S. lawmakers are seeking to pass a bill to impose new sanctions on Iran in response to its missile program. This bill, unveiled at the AIPAC annual meeting, targets Iran's ballistic missile production and development program, deeming it 'illegal' according to United Nations Security Council resolutions. Meanwhile, Senator McConnell, a critic of the nuclear deal, reassured Israel that 'the United States will stand by Israel.' Iran and six world powers reached an agreement in July 2015 to resolve Tehran's nuclear activities, under which many of Iran's nuclear programs were halted in exchange for the suspension or lifting of international sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Israel is displeased with the nuclear deal, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it 'a very bad deal.' The new U.S. administration also holds a negative stance towards this agreement and has indicated a review of it. However, the White House has assured that it does not intend to unilaterally withdraw from the deal. Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, also spoke at the AIPAC conference on Monday, emphasizing U.S. support for Israel and confronting Iranian threats. He stated that the U.S. 'must use all its power to counter these threats and work with its allies, especially Israel.' The new sanctions bill targets individuals involved in Iran's missile programs and also imposes sanctions on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including arms sanctions. Since taking office on January 20, the new U.S. administration has imposed sanctions twice against Iran's missile program. The U.S. Treasury Department first placed 25 individuals and entities on its sanctions list on February 4, 2022, in connection with an Iranian missile test. Then, in the early days of the new Persian year, 30 foreign individuals and entities were sanctioned for sending sensitive technology to Iran related to its missile program and for violating export controls to Iran, North Korea, and Syria. This led to a strong reaction from Iran, which retaliated by sanctioning 15 American companies for cooperating with Israel.