The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), and the People’s Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI / MEK Iran), reported on Wednesday, the Organization of Iranian American Communities (OIAC) hosted a celebration of Nowruz, the Persian New Year.

The virtual event was attended by a bipartisan group of United States senators and focused on the need for continued sanctions and pressure against the Iranian regime.

An Uncertain Fate

The event took place during a time of uncertainty of the fate of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), more commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal. Former President Donald Trump withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, calling it a “bad deal,” and reinstated pre-2015 sanctions. Tehran responded by walking away from its commitments to the remaining signatories to the deal.

President Joe Biden vowed to renew the JCPOA when he was elected, but negotiations have stalled due to recent aggression from the Iranian regime as well as the regime’s insistence that sanctions be lifted before it complies with previous terms.

The Biden administration has now taken a tougher stance and aims to make a new agreement that is “longer and stronger.” The administration is seeking to add the regime’s ballistics weapons program, regional aggression, and human rights record to the next nuclear deal. European diplomats have reached out to Tehran to schedule negotiations but have not received a response.

Bipartisan Agreement

The tougher deal has placed some Democrats and Republicans in a rare state of agreement.

Senator Ben Cardin

“I am working with the Biden-Harris administration and my colleagues in the Senate to continue to hold Iran accountable,” said Democratic Senator Ben Cardin.

“While there may be some differing views on tactics, we all agree that Iran must never possess a nuclear weapon, and Iranian support for human rights violations and terrorism must end.”

Cardin vowed to create “concrete consequences” for human rights abuses by the Iranian government.

“We need to use all the tools at our disposal, including targeted sanctions, for the most egregious human rights violations,” he said.

Senator Bob Menendez

Bob Menendez, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, applauded the OIAC for its “dedicated advocacy” and condemned the Iranian regime for its human rights violations and support for terrorism.  Menendez, who opposed the 2015 iteration of the JCPOA, also shared a message of bipartisanship.

“While in Congress we may have different approaches about the best way to address the threat from Iran, rest assured that we remain united against the regime’s fundamental abuses against its citizens,” he said.

Senator Ted Cruz

Republican Senator Ted Cruz was the exception to the bipartisan spirit on Wednesday. The senator, who is widely disliked by his own colleagues, criticized the President’s work to create a firmer deal with Iran.

“This administration has shown every sign that it intends to and that it will embrace and appease the Iranian regime,” he said.

“We are already seeing the sorry fruits of that appeasement in the form of constant attacks by Iran and its terror armies on American forces and our allies across the Middle East.”

Senator Gary Peters

Senator Gary Peters, the Democratic chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, was quick to point out that the Iranian regime will have to give up its ballistics missiles and nuclear programs if it wants to be part of the global community. This will end attacks as a matter of course.

“The regime ruling Iran has lost legitimacy through its failure to abide by basic international obligations to respect human rights and civil liberties,” he said.

Mrs. Rajavi’s Address

National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) President-elect Maryam Rajavi gave an address at the Nowruz event on Wednesday. Mrs. Rajavi called on Western governments to support the MEK and Iranian Resistance in “bringing down the regime.”

“Any concessions to this regime or silence towards its crimes will only embolden it to increase its threats more than ever before. The only option is for the international community to show maximum resolve against this regime,” she said.

Senator Tod Young

Senator John Boozman

 

Former Senator Joe Liberman

Kelly Ayotte

Senator John Cornyn

Senator John Boozman

Senator Marco Rubio

 

 

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