Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) today led a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The letter requested that Robert Malley, U.S. Special Envoy for Iran, testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee to provide long-overdue updates on nuclear negotiations with Iran and other pressing matters.
Robert Malley was appointed U.S. Special Envoy for Iran on January 28, 2021. Since then, he has failed to appear for a single oversight hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Recent reports about the disarray within the State Department’s Iran team have increased the urgency for his testimony, especially given the unanswered questions about nuclear talks with the Iranian regime, American hostages remaining in Iran, the regime’s ongoing regional aggression, and its destabilizing missile program.
Tenney said, “One year is far too long for Special Envoy for Iran, Rob Malley, to have gone without appearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Our Nation has pressing security concerns in the region, including Americans who are still being held hostage in Iran and the regime’s growing nuclear program. This game cannot go on any longer. While Iran continues to utilize its terrorist proxies to press its regional advantage and expand its control, this Administration is nowhere to be found and our negotiating team is reportedly in disarray. I am urging Secretary Blinken to ensure Mr. Malley testifies before this Committee so that Congress can conduct the appropriate oversight and restore accountability and transparency.”
“Our request for Mr. Malley to testify is fully consistent with precedent. We remind you that Mr. Malley’s predecessor, U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, had a transparent and open relationship with both the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during his tenure. Mr. Hook testified before Congress on numerous occasions and provided multiple briefings to Members throughout his tenure. However, this same level of transparency and openness under your leadership is completely lacking,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter to Secretary Blinken.
The letter was also signed by Reps. Joe Wilson, Scott Perry, Tim Burchett, Greg Steube, Ronny Jackson, Maria Elvira Salazar, Young Kim, and Peter Meijer.
The full text of the letter is available here.
Secretary Blinken:
We write to you today to request that Robert Malley, U.S. Special Envoy for Iran, appear before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs for the first time to provide an update on negotiations with the regime in Iran. As you well know, Mr. Malley was appointed to the position of Special Envoy for Iran on January 28, 2021, and in this role reports to you. Friday,January 28, 2022, marked exactly one year since he took this position, and he has yet to appear before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs for a public hearing to update Congress on nuclear talks with the regime and other important topics, such as American hostages that remain held in Iran, the regime’s ongoing regional aggression, and its destabilizing missile program.
Such a hearing is especially timely at this moment given recent news that the U.S. negotiating team under Malley’s leadership is in complete disarray. As Secretary of State, you previously made a commitment that the State Department’s Iran team would comprise a range of individuals with varying perspectives. However, according to credible media reports, Mr. Malley is forcing out those who disagree with him. With the recent departure of the Deputy Special Envoy for Iran, Richard Nephew, who was reportedly forced out for advocating a tougher posture against the regime, it is time for Mr. Malley to appear before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs to answer important questions. Why are Department officials being forced off the negotiating team? What is the Administration’s current posture on sanctions relief to Iran? Why are key sanctions on Iran’s energy sector not being fully enforced? What is the status of Iran’s nuclear program and increasing uranium enrichment? The American people deserve answers.
The facts clearly show that Iran continues to advance its nuclear program, escalate tensions in the region, and provide support to terrorist proxies, which recently resulted in deadly attacks on partners such as Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The Administration’s enthusiasm for returning to the nuclear deal despite Iran’s escalation and intransigence is a massive miscalculation that is diminishing deterrence and weakening our leverage in negotiations.
Our request for Mr. Malley to testify is fully consistent with precedent. We remind you that Mr. Malley’s predecessor, U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, had a transparent and open relationship with both the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during his tenure. Mr. Hook testified before Congress on numerous occasions and provided multiple briefings to Members throughout his tenure. However, this same level of transparency and openness under your leadership is completely lacking.
In furtherance of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs’ vital oversight responsibilities and to restore transparency and accountability, we request that Mr. Malley testify before the Committee urgently to provide long-overdue updates on nuclear negotiations with Iran and other matters.
Sincerely, ### |