While Iranian officials and the Iranian press publicly denigrated the congressmen’s request, the tone of the official response that was sent to the State Department last week was surprisingly contemptuous. It characterized the congressmen as trying to “dictate” Iranian policy rather than merely apply for a visa. (You can read Iran’s letter in response here.)
The congressmen are not taking this undignified response lightly. In statements obtained by THE WEEKLY STANDARD, Representatives Mike Pompeo, Lee Zeldin, and Frank LoBiondo are firing back at the government of Iran for attacking their motives and mischaracterizing their actions.
Pompeo, a Kansas Republican and member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, wrote:
“This absurd letter from the Iranian Foreign Ministry is unsigned, months overdue, and refers to our request for visas to travel to Iran as a ‘publicity stunt.’ It is not responsive to our request, and is an attempt to distract from some of the Ayatollah’s far more dramatic ‘publicity stunts’ such as writing ‘Israel must be wiped out’ on ballistic missiles, plotting to blow up a restaurant in Washington, D.C., and kidnapping American sailors on the day of the State of the Union. Our request was never a publicity stunt. It was, and remains, a serious attempt to accomplish important tasks for the American people. I ask the government of Iran yet again, grant our request for a visa.”
LoBiondo, a New Jersey Republican and also a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, stated:
“It is deeply disappointing, though not surprising, Iran would respond to our legitimate request with insults and deflections. As predicted, in denying our visa request Iran reaffirms that President Obama’s ‘new era of openness and cooperation,’ as sold to the American people and the world, is a farce. Our resolve to ask critical questions and conduct the vigorous oversight required in dealing with Iran will continue despite this decision.”
And Zeldin, a New York Republican and member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, wrote:
“While not surprised at this reaction from a Ministry-level entity within the Iranian government, like the JCPOA, this letter is an unsigned document that spits in the face of the freedom loving world. This shameful response dodges almost all the inquiries of our letter, because they fear the consequences of honesty. The Iranians may have President Obama and Secretary Kerry wrapped around their fingers and toes, but January 2017 will be here soon enough. Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism and this letter from [Iranian foreign minister Javad] Zarif’s office is a glaring reminder that they should be treated as such. It’s really too bad that they go so far out of their way to prevent a democracy from flourishing in their own country, because they know well that they would finally be replaced by leaders who want to empower their people rather than themselves and want to lead Iran to better days ahead instead of violently downhill. Inside of Iran are millions of great people who understand that while Obama and Kerry prop up the wrong regime, one opportunity after another is being missed to replace these Iranian thugs with true leaders and peaceful actors.”
