Reps. Zeldin, Pompeo and LoBiondo on Iran Missing Deadline to Respond to Visa Applications

Washington, DC – Rep. Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.), Chairman of the House CIA Subcommittee, today released the following statement after the Iranian government missed its own, self-imposed deadline for responding to the three lawmakers’ visa applications. Last week, Zeldin, Pompeo, and LoBiondo hand-delivered visa applications to the Iranian Interests Section in Washington, D.C. for the purpose of traveling to Iran to observe its elections on February 26, and to accomplish a number of agenda items, including appointments with American hostages, visits to Iranian nuclear facilities, updates on Iran’s recent ballistic missile tests, and an IRGC briefing on the detention of 10 U.S. Navy sailors. The three Congressmen released the following joint statement:

“The Deputy Director of the Iranian Interests Section personally committed to respond by February 8, 2016 to each of our requests to travel to Iran.  We have yet to receive any response.  Our regret that Iran has failed to live up to its own commitment is compounded by the fact that several high-ranking Iranian government officials – including Foreign Minister Zarif’s spokesman – have attacked us in the press.

“With the implementation of the nuclear deal, we seek to hold both our government and the Islamic Republic of Iran accountable.  As President Obama bends to Iran’s will and weakens U.S. counterterrorism law – ignoring the will of Congress, and the law he himself signed – the need for congressional oversight increases and the burden on Iran to allow such oversight is increasingly in its best interests.

“If Iran refuses to permit Americans to validate that Iran is honoring its commitments, the American people and the international business community have reason to doubt the seriousness and long-term viability of this deal.  

“In just over two weeks, Iran will hold elections.  We still hope that our requests will be granted, and that the Iranian people will be able to determine the future of their country in free and fair elections.”