Urge Members of Congress to Support Extending the U.N. Arms Embargo on Iran
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The world's leading state sponsor of terrorism is on the brink of being able to import and export advanced weapons under international law. In seven months—on Oct. 18, 2020—the U.N. arms embargo on Iran will expire. This development will make an already chaotic Middle East even more dangerous for America and Israel. Just last week, Iranian-backed proxies killed two Americans and one Briton in rocket attacks in Iraq. The United States must ensure that Iran is not given the green light to stockpile advanced weapons and accelerate its weapons proliferation to terrorist proxies across the region.
Please urge your members of Congress to support important bipartisan initiatives to extend the U.N. arms embargo on Iran.
Senate: Cosponsor a bipartisan resolution (S.Res. 509)—authored by Sens. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV)—supporting efforts to extend the U.N. arms embargo on Iran. Click here to see a list of Senate cosponsors.
House: Sign a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo—authored by Reps. Eliot Engel (D-NY), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)—supporting efforts to extend the U.N. arms embargo on Iran. Click here to see a list of House signatories.
CALL YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Please call (202) 224-3121 to reach the Capitol switchboard.
PHONE SCRIPT:
Senate: “I am calling to urge the senator to cosponsor S. Res. 509, a bipartisan resolution authored by Sens. Toomey and Rosen, supporting efforts to extend the U.N. arms embargo on Iran.”
House: “I am calling to urge the representative to sign a bipartisan letter, authored by Reps. Engel and McCaul, supporting efforts to extend the U.N. arms embargo on Iran.”
TALKING POINTS
Iran—the principal obstacle to peace and stability in the Middle East—has already proven how aggressive it can be without access to international arms imports. Last week, Iranian-backed proxies killed two Americans and one Briton in rocket attacks in Iraq.
Removing these restrictions will only further embolden the regime, adding fuel to the fire in the region. Moreover, this weapons proliferation could exacerbate the arms race between Iran and its neighbors, further threatening the Middle East.
The Iranian regime will soon be allowed to import tanks, armored combat vehicles, large-caliber artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles and missile systems.
In addition to benefiting Iran and its terrorist proxies— including Hezbollah, Hamas, Assad, the Houthis and its Iraqi militias—this development will also greatly benefit Russia and China, at the expense of the U.S., Israel and our other allies in the region. Russia and China will be able to sell weapons to Iran without violating international law, resulting in more advanced weapons reaching Iran’s terrorist proxies, which directly threaten Americans and Israelis.
