On Monday, the Biden Administration announced that it will allow Iranian President Ebrahim Raisa to enter the United States for the United Nations General Assembly meeting. U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) released a statement critical of the decision.
“This disgraceful decision is the latest in a long line of dangerous appeasement by the Biden Administration,” Sen. Britt said. “Just two days ago, Iran reportedly expelled several senior International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors from the country. Now, President [Joe] Biden is sending a clear message to the world that the United States of America tolerates terrorism. On the very same day that the Biden Administration hands $6 billion to the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world, the President chooses to allow the unapologetic leader of this ruthless regime into our country. This weakness endangers our national security, insults the Americans and allies struck by Iranian-backed terrorism across the globe, and abandons oppressed people in Iran who hunger for liberty, peace, and safety. We achieve peace through strength, not placation. The safety and security of all Americans is gravely imperiled by President Biden’s continued blunders on the global stage,” said Senator Britt.
Five Americans who were freed by Iran as part of a prisoner exchange deal arrived in Qatar on Monday. The five American dual citizens were falsely convicted and imprisoned in Iran. They are now on their way home. The deal cost $6 billion in seized oil sales and the release of five Iranians convicted of nonviolent crimes.
Sen. Britt opposed that deal on the grounds that paying out funds for hostages simply encourages bad actors to take more hostages. Britt said that the deals with Iran are appeasement.
Last week, Senator Britt joined a group of four Republican colleagues in sending a letter reproaching President Raisi’s visit last month to the home of Asadollah Assadi. Assadi was sentenced to twenty years in prison by Belgium for his role in a bomb plot. The letter expressed concern over President Raisi’s record of publicly tolerating terrorism and continued threats against American officials and urged the Biden Administration to deny visas to President Raisi and his staff at UNGA.
Joining Senator Britt in sending the letter were U.S. Senators Rick Scott (R-Florida), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Ted Budd (R-North Carolina).
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