Sen. Cruz Issues Statement Condemning Iranian Attack on Saudi Arabian Oil Facilities

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today issued a statement urging the administration to increase pressure on Iran, following Iran's attack on Saudi Arabia:

"This weekend's devastating attacks on Saudi Arabia were designed to try to pressure President Trump into reducing his administration's pressure campaign against the Iranian regime. The Ayatollah's attacks, in turn, were enabled by the catastrophic Obama-Iran nuclear deal, which enriched Iran with hundreds of billions of dollars in sanctions relief and cash, while gutting international restrictions against Iran's weapons and ballistic missile development.

"Now is absolutely not the time to reduce economic pressure on Iran. Instead, President Trump should order his administration to redouble its efforts to roll back the largesse of the deal. That means revoking the civil nuclear waivers, which allow Iran to build up its nuclear program, including at their Fordow nuclear bunker, which they dug out of the side of a mountain to build nuclear weapons. It also means going to the United Nations and invoking our unilateral right to snap back and restore international restrictions on Iran's arms. Otherwise, we will quickly face a disastrous reality in which all international sanctions have been permanently lifted against Iran.

"This weekend's attacks are also a stark reminder of the importance of securing and deepening our energy independence. Under President Trump's leadership, America is now the number one energy producer in the world. Expanding our domestic oil and gas development is an important buffer to the threats and actions of enemies like Iran."

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