Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) discussed the apparent end of hostilities against Iran in a recent appearance on Fox Business's Mornings with Maria as negotiations continue, saying that the end goal must be that Iran "can never, ever be a nuclear power."
President Donald Trump sent a letter to Congress on Friday announcing the end of military operations against Iran, thereby avoiding the 60-day requirement of the 1973 War Powers Resolution. However, Iran has reportedly continued to engage in hostile activity against ships in the Strait of Hormuz, which Rep. Gimenez called "acts of piracy."
The United States has retaliated against the attacks, arguing that the destruction of six Iranian boats that attacked ships does not constitute violating the ceasefire.
"If they were a nuclear-armed nation, they would commit these acts of piracy with impunity," Rep. Gimenez continued, adding, "to be able to charge any toll that they wanted, attack and ship and seize any ship that they wanted because they are a nuclear power, and so the President is absolutely correct in this strategy. They could never, ever have a nuclear weapon."
Part of attaining that goal, the Florida congressman explained, was the allowance of "a very robust inspection program that we can inspect whenever, however, and at the time of our choosing."
Gimenez also suggested that "the Strait must remain open all the time, without any tolls and without any acts of piracy from Iran. That is the least that we need from these negotiations, and that they won't be funding terrorism around the world anymore, and that they can rejoin the world of nations."
Representative Brian Mast (R-FL) previously told host Maria Bartiromo that "the President is in the right position right now to say, 'Okay, we have this ceasefire that is more durable than most are giving it for."
"Iran needs this a lot more than the United States of America does," Rep. Mast commented. "So let us let them come to the table with more and more offers because we are not going to accept any less than what we need."
