Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee want the Obama administration to take tougher action against Iran, saying Wednesday that its response to a recent ballistic missile test and Tehran’s involvement in Syria is too passive.
Chairman Bob Corker suggested that the White House is paralyzed on both issues and unable to make a decision.
“I fear that’s what’s happening right now on this particular issue,” the Tennessee Republican said, noting that he was circulating a letter to the president calling for a unilateral U.S. response to Iran’s test of a new, longer range ballistic missile that could be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
Republicans and Democrats on the panel said the response to the Oct. 11 launch would be a key test of the administration’s resolve to enforce the nuclear deal reached in July between Iran and world powers.
“I do think we need to take action immediately to show that we’re not going to be pushed around,” said Democrat Tim Kaine of Virginia.
The nuclear deal extends for eight years U.N.-imposed restrictions on Tehran’s development of ballistic missiles, but Iran has publicly rejected any limits.
Anne Patterson, assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, told the panel that the administration has taken the issue to the U.N. Security Council, which will appoint a group of experts to examine the issue and decide what to do based on their report. But Security Council action depends on the cooperation of veto-wielding permanent member Russia, which is seen as eager to sell arms to Iran and backed an immediate lifting of the restrictions.
“We know that Russia’s going to block this,” Patterson said, but added, “we’ll go through the process … and then decide what we’re going to do.”
Responded Corker: “We’d like something a little more clear coming from the administration.”
The missile, dubbed “Emad,” or “Pillar,” has an estimated range of 900 milles to 1,100 miles, which is enough to reach Israel, and a maneuverable warhead to improve accuracy and complicate anti-missile defenses. Officials and experts are concerned that any breach by Iran of its obligations under the nuclear agreement, combined with further development of its missile program, would give the theocracy in Tehran a nuclear strike capability against the Jewish state, which it has vowed to destroy.
Meanwhile, lawmakers also expressed dismay that the administration has accepted Iran joining international talks on Syria’s future with the next round in Vienna on Friday.
The participation of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s chief backer adds a new dimension to the talks seeking an end to that country’s four-year-old civil war. Tehran is estimated to have spent billions to prop up Assad’s regime and also has contributed combat troops to his fight against rebels, not only from its own forces but from proxies such as the Lebanese Shiite Muslim militia Hezbollah. That support is expected to increase once Iran begins receiving billions of dollars in sanctions relief from the nuclear deal.
“I think we are opening the door to an influence that is not going to serve us well,” Democrat Bob Menendez of New Jersey said, referring to Iran and Russia, which has recently intervened in Syria on Assad’s behalf.
“For a practical matter, senator, they’re on the ground so they have to be involved in the process,” Patterson said.
