Strong Warning from Chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee to Ali Khamenei

On Tuesday, April 1st, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee held a meeting titled "Return to Maximum Pressure: A Comprehensive Response to the Iranian Regime's Malicious Activities." During this session, Chairman Brian Mast delivered a stern and direct message to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran. He stated, "President Trump will either work with you to peacefully end your nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program, or he will destroy your nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program. The choice of remedy is yours, Ayatollah." This meeting coincided with the official unveiling of a new initiative by the Republican Study Committee (RSC) called "Implementing Maximum Pressure: Holding Iran Accountable," aimed at countering Iran's increasing aggressive actions in the Middle East and solidifying the Trump administration's hardline policies toward the Islamic Republic. A key component of this initiative is the "Maximum Pressure" bill introduced by Zach Nunn, chairman of the National Security Working Group of the Republican Study Committee. This bill seeks to codify severe sanctions against Iran to prevent any potential return to lenient policies by future administrations. The bill targets the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Supreme Leader, and Iran's oil sales, mandating U.S. presidents to enforce these sanctions. Other proposals introduced in this package include: "Bill to Prevent the Lifting of Iran Sanctions Waivers, Iran Energy Sanctions Act, Iran Terrorism Prevention Act, Bill to Prevent the Easing of Terrorist Sanctions, Bill to Ban Hezbollah's Presence in the Western Hemisphere, Bill to Free Iraq from Iranian Influence, Maximum Support Act, Bill to Combat Corrupt Iranian Oligarchs, and House Resolution 139 to Activate Snapback Sanctions Against Iran Under UN Security Council Resolution 2231." Zach Nunn stated at the meeting, "The terrorist regime in Iran must no longer continue its actions without consequences. We must apply maximum pressure to protect our national interests." August Pfluger, chairman of the Republican Study Committee, also stated, "We are not just making slogans; we are sending a clear message to Tehran: America is back, your days of financing terror are coming to an end, and your regime will face consequences that even Ayatollah [Khamenei] cannot escape through prayer." In this press meeting, a group of Republican representatives, including Ben Klein, Brian Steil, Greg Steube, Joe Wilson, Claudia Tenney, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Troy Downing, Nick Begich, Don Bacon, Randy Weber, and Abe Hamadeh, participated and supported various aspects of this campaign. In the final section, representatives answered questions regarding potential negotiations with Iran, nuclear concerns, and the objectives of sanctions, emphasizing that the ultimate goal is to change Tehran's behavior and prevent the Islamic Republic from acquiring nuclear weapons. The U.S. President has warned that if Iran does not reach an agreement with the U.S. regarding its nuclear program, it will face secondary tariffs and bombing. This statement was met with a response from the Iranian leader, who on April 1st during the "Eid al-Fitr prayer" stated that if the U.S. and Israel attack, they will face "a strong counter-strike." Iranian officials claim that the goal of developing the nuclear program is not to acquire a nuclear bomb, but after the first Trump administration withdrew from the "JCPOA" nuclear agreement, they deviated from their commitments under this agreement and significantly accelerated uranium enrichment, especially in the past year. American lawmakers and experts present at the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing emphasized an unprecedented bipartisan consensus: preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons is a fundamental priority. However, there are still disagreements over how far Washington should go in applying pressure or whether to pursue a diplomatic path. Republican representatives strongly supported the Trump administration's decision to reinstate the "maximum pressure" campaign, a policy that characterized his approach to Iran during his first term in office. Mike Lawler, chairman of the subcommittee and Republican representative from New York, stated on Tuesday, "The maximum pressure campaign devastated Iran's economy and stripped it of vital resources. A nuclear Iran is unacceptable." Democratic representatives also acknowledged the threat from Iran but emphasized the importance of diplomacy. Gregory Meeks, a senior Democratic member from New York, stated, "There is a bipartisan understanding of the danger posed by Iran as the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. We must combine pressure with diplomatic engagement." Three experts at the meeting testified about the challenges posed by Iran and the potential consequences of U.S. strategies. Norman Roule, a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, warned that Iran is advancing its nuclear program and could achieve the capability to build a nuclear weapon within months if not contained. Roule stated, "Iran is closer to producing a nuclear weapon than ever before," adding that military strikes can only delay this program. He called for a comprehensive approach that combines sanctions, military readiness, and diplomacy. Claire Youngman from the "United Against a Nuclear Iran" (UANI) highlighted the impact of sanctions on Iran's economy, stating that it remains fragile due to inflation and currency devaluation. She emphasized the importance of targeting Iran's oil trade with China, which violates U.S. sanctions, and suggested leveraging Iran's economic vulnerabilities to weaken its support for proxy forces in the region, such as Hezbollah, which is recognized as a terrorist group by the U.S. Dana Strol from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy warned that military strikes could lead to broader conflict and urged Washington to accompany pressure tactics with strong diplomacy. She added, "The pillars of Iran's security strategy," including its nuclear program, network of proxy forces, and arsenal of missiles and drones, "are more vulnerable today than ever before."