Paul Ryan: Congress Will Work to Intensify Sanctions Against Iran

Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, reacted on Tuesday, March 8, to reports regarding the missile tests by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stating that Congress will continue its efforts to intensify sanctions against Iran to compel the government to cease its provocative actions against the U.S. and its allies. According to Reuters, the Republican Speaker emphasized that Iran's recent missile test is a violation of international law. The commander of the IRGC's Aerospace Force announced on Tuesday the commencement of the "Valayat Power Missile Exercise," stating, "This exercise, conducted differently from similar exercises in recent days, has begun with the launch of various long-range, medium-range, and short-range ballistic missiles in different regions of Islamic Iran, and has entered its final phase since the early hours of today." According to ISNA news agency, Amir Ali Hajizadeh added, "In recent days, various ballistic missiles with ranges of 2000 km, 800 km, 500 km, and 300 km have been launched, showcasing a diverse array of Iranian missiles." Meanwhile, U.S. and French officials previously stated that Iran's missile tests could violate UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which calls for Iran to refrain from any missile tests capable of carrying nuclear warheads. In this context, several Republicans in the U.S. Congress have called for new sanctions against Iran. Bob Corker, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement criticizing the IRGC's missile test, stating that the UN Security Council and the U.S. must respond promptly to Iran's disregard for international law. Corker also mentioned that his aides are preparing a sanctions proposal that could gain support from Senate members. Senator Corker told Reuters, "We are negotiating on this to see what type of (sanctions) proposal is feasible." The UN Security Council, in July of this year, issued Resolution 2231, which confirmed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and six world powers, requesting Iran to refrain from any activities related to ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads for eight years after the first day of the JCPOA's implementation, including the use of technology related to these missiles. However, Iranian officials claim that Iran's ballistic missiles are defensive in nature and do not have the capability to carry nuclear warheads, thus asserting that their test launches do not violate the aforementioned resolution. Earlier this year, the IRGC also tested a missile named "Emad," which drew international reactions, leading the U.S. to impose sanctions against Iran.