Senior Republicans in the United States’ House of Representatives on Friday moved to take a tougher position on Iran without jeopardising the nuclear deal by scheduling a vote next week on the country’s ballistic missile programme and on Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah militia, Reuters reported.
The move by the Republican party follows President Donald Trump’s announcement earlier this month that he would not certify that Iran was complying with the nuclear deal. He had even threatened to terminate the deal if the US Congress did not take a tougher stance on Iran.
“It is Congress’ responsibility to work with the executive branch on a clear-eyed strategy to stop Iran’s reckless behaviour,” House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce said in a joint statement.
The Bill targeting Iran’s ballistic missile programme is expected to pass with overwhelming bipartisan support, while attempts to rewrite or invalidate the nuclear deal will be opposed tooth and nail by the Democrats, The Hill reported.
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