Manchin Warns Blinken, Biden Admin Not to Remove Iran’s IRGC From Terror List – Opinion

One of my colleagues over at Hot Air, Ed Morrissey wrote in March about the reemergence of negotiations between Iran and the United States on the so-called JCPOA — the terrible nukes deal put in place by President Barack Obama, which Donald Trump wisely removed us from during his tenure:

However, US and EU seem to believe that creating a loophole for sanctions avoidance is the best response to Tehran-Moscow.

[…]
In fact, it’s so bad — especially after Iran’s missile attacks near our consulate in Irbil — that even one House Democrat wanted Biden to put an end to negotiations.

Ed shared Virginia Rep. Elaine Luria’s tweetconcerning her concerns after the attack.

I’m continuing to monitor reports of an attack on our consulate in Irbil.

According to reports, the Biden administration must end its talks with Iran. A failed JCPOA cannot be renegotiated to empower Iran or threaten global security.

RedState also covered another voice. Gabriel Noronha was a former State Department special advisor for Iran, under Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. He raised concerns about the bad deal that the Biden administration appeared to be nearing agreeing. Noronha published a harsh op-ed about the Biden Administration. Tablet titled “This Isn’t Obama’s Iran Deal. It’s Much, Much Worse.”

But Noronha wasn’t finished, according to reporting by the Washington Free BeaconIn March, the agreement was finalized. WFB shared that “Russia is being awarded a financial lifeline via the nuclear agreement, undermining international efforts to isolate Moscow,” with the U.S. allowing Rosatom, “Russia’s top state-controlled energy company” to proceed with a $10 billion nuclear energy project in Iran.

The WFB was informed by him:

“Rosatom’s projects in Iran are crucial to the company’s future financial viability—that’s exactly why we should shut them down by disrupting their foreign contracts—especially those with a regime like Iran.

We’re doing the opposite. The United States should sanction Rosatom for its involvement in Russia’s war on Ukraine, but in classic fashion, we’re giving them full sanctions immunity that will stabilize Rosatom’s finances.”

Now, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is sounding the alarm, in a new letter addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on word that the negotiated deal would not only ease financial sanctions but remove Iran’s notorious state-sponsored terrorist group “Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from the State Department’s Foreign Terrorist Organization list”  (full text below, via Manchin’s official homepage):

Joe Manchin wrote to Antony Blinken, Secretary of State about Iran Nuclear Negotiations. He is particularly worried about the reports that Biden’s administration might remove the IRGC off the Foreign Terrorist List. pic.twitter.com/KEaKqBqKiH

— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) April 19, 2022

Dear Secretary Blinken

Concerned about the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States regarding the return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, I ask for a full report on those discussions. While I support President Biden’s commitment to reengaging the Government of Iran in diplomacy, we should not reward Iran with sanctions relief before they demonstrate verifiable efforts towards curbing their malign influence holistically; including their nuclear ambitions. terrorist financing and development of dual-use weapons.

I am particularly worried about reports that you might be considering removing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from the State Department’s Foreign Terrorist Organization list in the hopes that trade relations can be reestablished with Iran to assist with our energy crisis. Please let me clarify. The IRGC can be considered a terrorist organisation. To address our current energy problems, we must not underestimate the importance of using sanctions relief. We should use sanctions to help us reach agreements with Iran to end malign Iranian acts. They are not a tool that can be used to accomplish non-strategic goals. Instead. We should invest in an all of the above domestic energy policy for national security as well as our ability to assist our partners and allies abroad. Congress can pass bipartisan energy legislation that will further increase our capability to supply the energy to our allies. We should not be looking to Iran for solutions to our energy issues.

For decades, the Iranian leadership has chosen to direct its government’s efforts and willpower toward destabilizing the Middle East and Africa through terrorism financing, which has resulted in thousands of deaths, including the deaths of U.S. servicemembers. Likewise. It remains a matter of concern that dual-use technologies, such as missiles and ballistic weapons systems could also be developed to carry nuclear warheads. If this is allowed to go on, it could lead to a proliferation of nuclear weapons systems. Iran may become a nuclear weapon power, leading to an arms race within the region. Each of these examples demonstrates an alarming lack of sincerity on Iran’s part and highlights the importance of thoroughly analyzing the various threats Iran can and will present to regional and international stability both today and after the expiration of the JCPOA. I agree we must halt the progress of Iran’s nuclear weapons program. However, we must continue to negotiate a halt to Iran’s use of state-sponsored terrorism, advancement of its missile program, and the continued proliferation of dual-use technologies.

As I requested in 2015, I request that Congress receive a detailed briefing so they can make an informed decision. It is my hope that Congress will have the opportunity to weigh in on this important foreign policy decision. The outcome of 2015’s negotiations disappointed me, so I will make every effort to prevent the future from repeating these mistakes.