The United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has announced on Thursday, Feb. 2nd 2017 that the U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led 20 of their bipartisan colleagues in a letter to President Trump after reports that Iran conducted a ballistic missile test late last week.
The Senators wrote that they are concerned by reports that Iran conducted a ballistic missile test on January 29, 2017. “If it is confirmed that Iran tested a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear weapon, Iran will have again violated both the letter and spirit of its obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015) not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology,” the letter said.
“We look forward to supporting your administration’s efforts to hold Iran accountable, and note the positive step taken by the United States calling for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. It is imperative that the United States lead the international community in enforcing UN Security Council Resolution 2231,” said the lawmakers led by Senator Bob Corker, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and its Ranking Member Senator Ben Cardin
Joining Senators Cardin and Corker on the letter are Democratic Senators Tim Kaine (Va.), Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), Chris Coons (Del.), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Robert Menendez (N.J.), Bob Casey (Penn.), Bill Nelson (Fla.), Michael Bennet (Colo.), and Ron Wyden (Ore.), and Republican Senators Marco Rubio (Fla.), Ron Johnson (Wis.), Todd Young (Ind.), Cory Gardner (Colo.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Johnny Isakson (Ga.), Tom Cotton (Ark.), John Barrasso (Wyo.), Jeff Flake (Ariz.), Jim Risch (Idaho), and Rob Portman (Ohio).
The Letter:
Dear Mr. President:
We are concerned by reports that Iran conducted a ballistic missile test on January 29, 2017. If it is confirmed that Iran tested a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear weapon, Iran will have again violated both the letter and spirit of its obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015) not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology.
Iranian leaders must feel sufficient pressure to cease deeply destabilizing activities, from sponsoring terrorist groups to continued testing of ballistic missiles. Full enforcement of existing sanctions and the imposition of additional sanctions on Iran for its ballistic missile program are necessary. Moreover, we are hopeful that the international community can unite around the common cause of countering Iran’s troubling actions.
We look forward to supporting your Administration’s efforts to hold Iran accountable, and note the positive step taken by the United States calling for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. It is imperative that the United States lead the international community in enforcing UN Security Council resolution 2231.
Sincerely,
