House Speaker Paul Ryan said Thursday he favors the imposition of additional sanctions on Iran, which has in recent days defied the terms of a U.N Security Council resolution by conducting ballistic missile tests.
“I would be in favor of additional sanctions on Iran,” Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters at his weekly news conference.
Ryan has long opposed President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran, which critics say provided the Iranian government with $150 billion in exchange for Iran reducing its nuclear program.
“I’d like to put as much toothpaste back into the tube as possible,” Ryan said in reference to the nuclear deal.
Ryan noted Iran is considered “the greatest sponsor of terrorism in the world,” and signaled agreement with the Trump administration’s response to the missile tests.
White House National Security Adviser Mike Flynn responded to move by announcing the United States is “officially putting Iran on notice.”
Ryan agreed on Thursday, calling for a “tough” approach to handling Iran.
