Letters About Iran Are Not Enough, Senators

Yesterday Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry concerning Iran’s missile test.

They reminded him:

United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power clearly stated that Iran’s test was a violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1929 which specifically states that “Iran shall not undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using ballistic missile technology.”

We are concerned about the military significance of this test, which is part of a long-term Iranian program that seeks to improve the range and capabilities of its ballistic missiles. We are also convinced that the launch is an attempt to test the world’s will to respond to Iranian violations of its international commitments.

We strongly believe that the ability of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to prevent Iran from fulfilling its nuclear ambitions must be fortified by a zero-tolerance policy to respond to violations of the agreement and of applicable UN resolutions – and a unified plan of action between the United States and our European allies about what specific responses should be deployed to respond to incremental violations.

Well, what are they doing? Oh, they “urge” the administration to “consider” unilateral or multilateral sanctions. That’s it?

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Mark Dubowitz, a widely regarded sanctions expert, agrees that talk (or letter writing) is cheap. “It’s now time to translate these expressions of concern into something tangible,” he argues. “Congress should pass legislation to statutorily designate all Iranian entities including banks involved in the development, production and testing of these missiles. It’s clear that the Obama administration will do nothing unless forced to act.”

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Read the full article here.