Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senator from Alaska | https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/about/bio
Dan Sullivan, U.S. Senator from Alaska | https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/about/bio
U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan and Richard Blumenthal have urged President Biden to implement stricter sanctions against Iran. In a letter sent last week, the senators highlighted Iran's recent attacks on Israel and its proxies' repeated assaults on U.S. Navy ships as reasons for increased sanctions.
The senators emphasized that since the attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, various groups funded and supported by Iran have targeted U.S. servicemen, naval vessels, allies in the region, and international shipping. They argued that the Iranian attack on Israel indicates a need to reassess current sanctions enforcement.
Sullivan and Blumenthal stated, "We believe that the United States and our allies should increase pressure on Iran and limit to the greatest extent possible the revenues available for it to fund aggression and terrorism in the Middle East and beyond."
The letter expressed appreciation for support from allies in Europe and the Middle East in defending Israel against Iran's April 13 attack. The senators praised their swift response but warned against complacency despite successfully intercepting most missiles launched at Israel.
They noted that Iran sells approximately $90 billion worth of sanctioned oil annually, using these funds to support regional proxies like Hamas and enhance its military capabilities. They suggested that increased sanctions could pressure Iran into leveraging its influence with Hamas to release hostages held for over 193 days.
The senators concluded by expressing readiness to collaborate with President Biden to address threats posed by Iran to global peace.
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