U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) has joined Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-ID) and 47 other senators in expressing support for the recent decision by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom to initiate snapback sanctions on Iran. The group sent a letter to French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot, German Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Johann Wadephul, and British Secretary of State Yvette Cooper.
Snapback sanctions refer to the automatic reimposition of previously lifted sanctions when an agreement’s terms are violated. According to the senators, Iran has not negotiated in good faith and continues actions that destabilize the region. They believe that increased pressure is necessary for meaningful diplomatic engagement.
The lawmakers wrote: “While we back diplomatic efforts to restore Iran’s compliance with its International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) commitments, the international community should not allow hollow gestures and cynical threats from Tehran to stop the snapback process. The regime has abused diplomatic processes for years to avoid penalties. Sanctions relief should only be negotiated after snapback is fully implemented. The regime must fully and verifiably dismantle its nuclear program, restore full IAEA access, terminate its support for international terror proxies, and end its ballistic missile program – at a minimum.”
They continued: “In light of the soon-returning international sanctions, we need joint interdiction efforts to prevent Iranian proliferation and acquisition of military, missile, and nuclear goods, technologies, and components. In line with returning UN obligations, we hope you will help us fully shutter Iran’s banking sector abroad, including by closing all branches in Europe.”
The letter also highlights concerns about Iran’s funding sources for its nuclear and missile programs—particularly oil sales to China—and calls for more coordinated efforts to curb these activities.
Other signatories include Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Tim Scott (R-SC), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Barrasso (R-WY), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rick Scott (R-FL), John Curtis (R-UT), John Cornyn (R-TX), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Jerry Moran (R-KS), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy M.D. (R-LA.), James Lankford (R-OK.), Mike Rounds (R-SD.), Thom Tillis (R-NC.), Joni Ernst (R-IA.), Dan Sullivan (R-AK.), Todd Young (R-IN.), John Kennedy (R-LA.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS.), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN.), Kevin Cramer (R-ND.), Josh Hawley (R-MO.), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY.), Roger Marshall M.D. (R-KS.), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK.), Ted Budd (R-NC.), Eric Schmitt (R-MO.), Katie Britt (R-AL.), Jim Banks (R-IN.), Bernie Moreno (R-OH.), Tim Sheehy (R-MT.) Jim Justice ( R-WV ), Jon Husted ( R-OH ) and Ashley Moody ( R-FL ).
The senators stated their intention to work with European partners following the completion of snapback measures to ensure all UN member states comply with renewed obligations regarding Iran.
They concluded: “Thank you again for your leadership at this pivotal moment. We look forward to continued cooperation to ensure the full reimposition of sanctions on Iran and to achieve our shared objective: a permanent dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program, the elimination of its uranium enrichment capability, the termination of its support for international terror proxies, and the end of its ballistic missile program.”
