U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) led seven of her Republican colleagues this week in introducing the Iran China Accountability Act, which would place certain conditions and limitations on any nuclear deals relating to Iran.
Blackburn’s bill, if enacted, would “weaken Iran’s ties with Communist China” by implementing the following measures:
- Require any nuclear agreement to be ratified by a two-thirds vote of the U.S. Senate;
- Prohibit obligation or expenditure of any funds for a nuclear agreement until: Iran terminates all agreements involving the transfer of funds from China and terminates strategic security and military partnerships with China; Iran terminates all ties and transfers of cash to Iranian proxy forces, including Hamas; Iran verifies the destruction of all chemical weapons, materials, and infrastructure; and The CCP ceases the incarceration of Uyghurs;
- Require a report from the Secretary of State to Congress detailing how any future agreement with Iran meets each requirement listed above; and
- Condemn Hamas-incited terrorist attacks on Israel.
“Iran would love nothing more than to enter into another nuclear deal that props up their terrorist activity and also benefits their fellow New Axis of Evil partner – Communist China,” Blackburn said in a statement. “As Iran and the CCP commit egregious human rights abuses against their own citizens and Iran-backed Hamas enacts horrific violence against Israel, it has become increasingly critical that the Biden administration holds the Iranian regime fully accountable. There must be no nuclear deal until we can ensure our national security interests are protected.”
Blackburn’s bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-ND), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Rick Scott (R-FL).
“Iran cannot be trusted…Nothing Iran does is good for America. Our bill makes it clear that until Iran cuts ties with Communist China, condemns human rights abuses and stops funding terrorism against Israel, the U.S. will not spend a single cent to move forward on any nuclear agreement,” Scott said.
Hyde-Smith added Blackburn’s bill would “prevent the Biden administration from recklessly entering a nuclear agreement by ensuring much-needed Congressional oversight.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Marsha Blackburn” by Marsha Blackburn.
