This upcoming Sunday, the people of Venezuela will hold an election that, if legitimate, would put an end to years of the oppressive Maduro narco-regime. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued a statement in support of the Venezuelan people: “The...
News
Latest News
Rubio: “La Tenacidad y Valentía del Pueblo venezolano Estarán a la Vista”
Este próximo domingo, el pueblo venezolano tendrá una elección que, de ser legítima, pondría fin a años de opresión por parte del narco-régimen de Maduro. El senador estadounidense Marco Rubio (R-FL) grabó un mensaje de video en español y emitió una declaración en...
Rubio, Scott, Colleagues to Biden Admin: No Privileges Should Be Given to 9/11 Terrorist
Twenty-three years ago, the United States was attacked by Islamic terrorists on September 11, 2001. Now, Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person convicted in a U.S. court for his role in the attack, has requested the U.S. Department of Justice to allow a prisoner transfer...
Next Week: Rubio Staff Hosts Mobile Office Hours
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) office will host virtual Mobile Office Hours next week to assist constituents with federal casework issues in their respective local communities. These office hours offer constituents who do not live close to one of Senator Rubio’s...
Rubio, Colleagues Introduce Ensuring Continuity in Veterans’ Health Act
As the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) opens up new facilities, many veterans are losing access to the VA’s Community Care Program and, consequently, their long-term healthcare providers. Veterans throughout the country have reported a loss of care, including...
Rubio Introduces Bill to Strengthen U.S.-India Security Partnership
The U.S.-India partnership is vital to countering influences from Communist China. In order to strengthen this partnership, it is essential to enhance our strategic diplomatic, economic, and military relationship with New Delhi. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)...
Rubio Stumps State Dept. About Iran’s Access To U.S. Dollars, Holds Treasury Nominees Until He Gets Answers
Washington, D.C. – At a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) continued pressuring the Obama Administration for answers on its reported attempts to help Iran illicitly access U.S. dollars.
As a follow-up to Rubio’s still unanswered letter last week to Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, the senator today pressed Thomas Shannon, the Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, about reported Obama administration attempts to help Iran evade existing U.S. laws in order to access U.S. dollars. Rubio described one potential scenario that would allow Iran to acquire U.S. dollars and asked Shannon if such an approach was legal.
“I’m not sure. I would have to check because if it doesn’t touch a U.S. bank, if it doesn’t touch the U.S. financial system…” Shannon paused. “Because what our sanctions legislation has done and what we have been able to accomplish in terms of limiting Iran’s access to our larger financial system is we have not permitted U-turn authorization.
“In other words, no exchange of dollars inside the U.S. financial system, and we have not allowed it access to our larger financial system,” Shannon added. “But I do not know, again I’m not a financial expert here, I’d have to check with Treasury, but I do not know if what you just described is authorized under the legislation.”
Later in the hearing, Rubio pressed the Obama Administration on whether Iran accessing U.S. dollars was in any way agreed to as part of the Obama nuclear deal with Iran.
“Was there ever a moment or is it part of this agreement that we would somehow help Iran get access to dollars in some way that did not violate the need to deal directly with the U.S. bank?” Rubio asked. “And you said here today that you are not aware of that ever being part of this agreement or conversation in any way.”
Shannon responded, “Again, I did not take part of the negotiations of the agreement, but my reading of the agreement indicates otherwise.”
Rubio also noted that restricting Iran’s access to the U.S. financial system is not a punitive measure. “The Iranian banking sector posed a hazard because of its laundering activities and so forth. Has Iran taken any actions to halt the use of its financial institutions for money laundering or for other illicit behavior?”
Shannon responded, “My understanding is it’s much more careful about which institutions it uses. But it still is engaged in money laundering activities that we attempt to block and stop.”
Following the hearing, Rubio indicated that he will hold Treasury Department nominees unless the administration immediately addresses the bipartisan concerns in Congress regarding this issue.
“I will continue to demand answers on these attempts to give Iran concession after concession even as the regime’s behavior makes clear that it has no intention of halting its threats to Israel and its regional efforts to sow instability,” Rubio said in a statement. “I cannot support the consideration of key Treasury Department officials until I receive clear answers to my letter to Secretary Lew.”
A video of Rubio’s full exchange with the Obama Administration at today’s hearing is available here.