Despite its long record of human rights violations and brutal crackdowns on protestors, Iran is still playing in the World Cup. Not only that, but the Biden administration has sought to revivify the controversial nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic. In a recent letter, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) demands the negotiations stop immediately. "We have long known that the Iranian regime does not act or negotiate in good faith on any issue, especially a nuclear agreement," the letter says.
Additionally, Scott calls Iran "a pariah state" that seeks to "destabilize the region and destroy Israel." As such, rather than a renewal of access to nuclear technology, the regime should receive "severe punishment and condemnation from the global community."
Thankfully, however, this foreign policy goal is noted by Scott as being on the back burner for the administration. US envoy to Iran Rob Malley is quoted as saying the administration is "not going to waste time" making any progress on further negotiations. Two major reasons are given by Axios, those being the Iranian regime's aforementioned response to protests in Tehran and evidence of Iran's support for Russia in its ongoing war with Ukraine.
"It is not on our agenda. We are not going to focus on something which is inert when other things are happening," says Malley in Axios' article.
While Scott says he is "welcome that change in policy," he emphasizes that merely stalling nuclear talks is "not enough."
He concludes his letter by saying that "we must acknowledge the evil and murderous Iranian regime wants to produce nuclear weapons. The United States must protect ourselves, and all our allies and partners, including Israel, by working to ensure that threat never actualizes."
Scott's letter comes in tandem with Rep. Carlos Gimenez's (R-FL-26) video supporting the Tehran protestors. Moreover, denunciations of the Iranian regime and support for Israel is relatively bipartisan in Florida, with Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL-22) being a prominent opponent of the nuclear deal, while Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-FL-46) shares footage detailing the true nature of Iran's repression and voting to designate the antisemitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement as a terrorist organization.
