Jerry Moran: “America's attention is rightfully drawn to supporting Ukraine's defense against Russia's illegal and unjustified war. At…”

“America's attention is rightfully drawn to supporting Ukraine's defense against Russia's illegal and unjustified war. At the same time, we are contending with China, which is undergoing the largest peacetime expansion of military power in history. This morning, Congress and the American people heard from Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and I rise today to remind my colleagues of the ongoing threat posed by Iran to peace in the Middle East and beyond. Iran is exporting more oil today than it has since 2019 despite the sanctions that were overwhelmingly passed by this Congress and that remain as current law. Recently, the Navy's Fifth Fleet intervened to prevent two commercial oil tankers from being seized by Iran in the Gulf of Oman. Iran was recently granted membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which fosters deeper political and economic cooperation with Russia, China, India, and other members. All of this has taken place while Iran continues to enhance its nuclear program, provides Russia with weaponry to use in Ukraine, funds proxy fighters throughout the Middle East, holds U.S. citizens hostage, and vows to kill former American officials in revenge for the death of Soleimani. Despite Tehran's reestablishment of diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia and holding indirect talks with the United States, it appears that we are far from the ``deescalation'' that the Biden administration says it seeks.…”