We Require Trump’s Pressure Policy as Iran Threat Increases

According to Vice President Kamala Harris, Iran is America’s primary adversary. However, Harris lacks a viable strategy for confronting this escalating threat.

This conclusion was drawn from Harris’ contentious interview with Bret Baier on Fox News last week.

When questioned about the dangers posed by Iran, Harris redirected the conversation to partisan issues. “Let’s shift focus to Donald Trump,” she remarked.

It seems that is precisely what should be done. Allow me to elaborate on why.

Under President Trump’s leadership, significant pressure was exerted on Iran, leading to a weakened state of the mullahs.

Iran’s oil sales dropped from 2.9 million barrels per day in April 2018 to 385,000 per day by May 2019.

The country’s foreign currency reserves plummeted from $112 billion in 2018 to $14 billion in 2019.

With diminished resources and reserves, Iran had less funding available for global terrorism activities.

By 2020, Iran faced the brink of financial collapse.

When Iran displayed aggressive behavior, Trump retaliated decisively. He notably eliminated Qasem Soleimani following the Iranian terrorist’s orchestrated attack on American troops.

Iran backed down.

If Iran is currently considered the top threat to America, it can be attributed to the policies of Kamala Harris and Joe Biden.

During their tenure, oil sanctions on Iran were relaxed, permitting the Iranian regime to amass $200 billion in oil revenue since January 2021.

Biden and Harris allowed Iran to advance perilously close to achieving nuclear capabilities. Some experts anticipate that Iran could possess a nuclear weapon within weeks.

Moments before the October 7 terrorist incident, the Biden-Harris administration paid a $6 billion ransom to Iran for the release of five hostages.

In addition, Biden-Harris pursued renegotiations of the failed Iran nuclear deal, retracted UN snapback sanctions, and reversed the Trump administration’s sanctions on the Iranian-supported Houthis as a terrorist group.

Furthermore, the administration appointed individuals sympathetic to radical Iranian ideologies, such as Robert Malley, who orchestrated efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal before being dismissed in 2023 for mishandling classified documents. 

Presently, Iran has grown wealthier, more powerful, and more belligerent due to the ongoing appeasement by the Biden-Harris administration, thereby compromising global security.

Iran’s oil profits are funneled into funding anti-American and anti-Israeli terrorist groups in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq.

Iran has launched large-scale missile assaults targeting Israel twice this year, marking unprecedented acts of aggression.

Within the United States, Iran is actively involved in election intervention favoring Harris and plotting Trump’s assassination. 

In instances of government-backed threats and disruptive actions, it is vital to take these matters seriously and respond decisively.

Although Harris now strives to appear resolute in her stance against Iran, why has she demonstrated weakness over the past four years?

For instance, when Israel eliminated Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the October 7 attack in Rafah, Harris cautioned against Israeli interference in Rafah, issuing threats of consequences if such actions were taken.

This encapsulates the Biden-Harris philosophy: being tough on allies while being weak against adversaries.

Trump’s approach succeeded in safeguarding American lives through deterrence, while the perceived defeatism of Kamala Harris and Joe Biden has increased vulnerabilities.

Considering the dangerous outcomes of their governance, Harris remains tight-lipped about her track record.

Senate Republicans are well-equipped to counter Iran’s malevolent deeds.

Senator Jim Risch’s “End Iranian Terror Act” aims to compel the Biden administration to enforce Iranian oil sanctions and prevent Chinese evasions of these sanctions.

Senator Bill Hagerty’s “Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act” proposes a mandatory congressional review of any sanctions relief granted to Iran, curbing the president’s ability to bypass Congress via informal agreements.

Senator Joni Ernst’s “PUNISH Act” seeks to codify Trump’s maximum pressure strategies and prohibit the lifting of sanctions as long as Iran targets American officials for assassination.

These legislative measures merit thorough debate and eventual implementation.

Yet Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer obstructs such initiatives from progressing.

Although Hagerty’s bill secured House approval in April with bipartisan backing, and Risch’s bill advanced through the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with bipartisan support, it is unlikely that Schumer and Senate Democrats will permit their passage this year.

Therefore, halting Iranian terrorism becomes a top priority for the forthcoming Republican Senate majority.

Despite Harris’ inclination to revert to discussions about Donald Trump, a majority of Americans favor returning to Trump’s successful foreign policy, emphasizing peace rooted in strength. It is remembered that America was safer during his administration.

Hence, let’s revive Trump’s sanctions, strength, and rationality. After enduring the tumultuous tenure of Kamala Harris and Joe Biden, America is in dire need of such measures.

John Barrasso is a US senator from Wyoming and chairman of the Senate Republican Conference.