Congressman Waltz Calls on Biden Administration to Increase Pressure on Iran to Limit Houthi Attacks in the Red Sea
Congressman Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) is asserting a link between the ongoing pattern of Houthi terrorist attacks in the Red Sea and the Iranian government and faulting President Joe Biden’s administration for not pressuring Iran more directly to end the high seas attacks.
Following their hijacking of a commercial ship on Nov. 19, Houthi terrorists in Yemen have launched explosive drones and missiles at other cargo vessels transiting the neighboring Red Sea.
The U.S. military and its allies and partners have escorted these civilian vessels, intercepted the drone and missile attacks, and have conducted air and missile strikes against Houthi-held territory in Yemen since Jan. 11.
“On the one hand, I am glad that the administration is finally taking some decisive action, rather than having our sailors sit out there as target practice for the Houthis and hitting back, but on the other hand, strategically, I have real questions here,” Mr. Waltz told NTD’s “Capitol Report” on Thursday.
“Number one, we seem to be dealing with the symptoms of the disease rather than going to its core issue and the core problem, which is Iran. And so we’re dealing with all of the tentacles of the octopus, to use another analogy, and not going to the head of the issue.”
The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, are a Zaydi Shiite terrorist movement that has fought with Yemen’s internationally recognized government since 2004.
Call for Return of Trump’s Maximum Pressure Policies
Mr. Waltz, who serves on the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees, said the United States should resume the “maximum pressure” sanctions policy President Donald Trump’s administration had toward Iran.
President Biden has rescinded some Trump-era sanctions against Iran and unfrozen some of the Tehran government’s assets during his administration. But Mr. Waltz argued these actions create avenues for Iran to fund proxy factions throughout the Middle East, including various Iraqi militia and terrorist groups that have clashed with the U.S. forces deployed in that country, as well as Hamas and Hezbollah that have clashed with Israeli forces.
“As long as Iran is flush with cash, it is going to continue to smuggle and send resources, weapons, money, and otherwise to all of its proxies,” the Florida Republican said.
Mr. Waltz said the Biden administration must reverse its course on Iran sanctions.
China’s Role
Financial Times reported this week that Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other members of the Biden administration had reached out to China, asking for help to convince Iran to dissuade the Houthis from carrying on further attacks in the Red Sea. When asked for his thoughts on that recent reporting, Mr. Waltz said China has no interest in calming the situation in the Red Sea shipping lanes.
“That statement from Secretary Blinken just shows how feckless, frankly, this administration’s diplomacy and foreign policy is,” Mr. Waltz said. “China has no interest or stake in pressuring Iran.”
Rather, the Florida congressman said China prefers to see the United States and its allies tied down dealing with attacks in the Red Sea and elsewhere throughout the Middle East.
