Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell praised President Donald Trump's decision to not recertify the Iran nuclear deal as being "in the vital national security interests of the United States."
"It is an appropriate response to the consequences of the Obama administration's failed policies," the Kentucky Republican said in a statement.
"The Obama administration's determination to draw down America's conventional military presence from across the globe, avoid conflict with competitor nation states even when those same countries threatened our national security interests, and its drive to negotiate an agreement with Iran that left a state sponsor of terror with an internationally recognized nuclear enrichment program was simply inadequate. "
President Trump's decision gives Congress 60 days to debate the issue. The 2015 agreement must be recertified every 90 days by a sitting president.
"As I have said many times, the Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into," Trump said at the White House.
"We will not continue down a path whose predictable conclusion is more violence, more terror, and the very real threat of Iran's nuclear breakthrough.
"I am directing my administration to work closely with Congress and our allies to address the deal's many serious flaws so the regime can never threaten the world with nuclear weapons," the president said.
McConnell said he welcomed the effort.
"The president's action now provides the opportunity for Congress to strengthen the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act and create a standard for certification that is consistent with our interests," he said. "It makes clear to our allies that more work must be done to contain Iran's malign behavior.
"I am committed to working with the Trump administration to constrain Iran's support for terrorism and proxy militias, impede the threat of ballistic missiles and deny Iran the path to a nuclear weapon."
McConnell added that under any new agreement, Iran must "recognize that our strategy must be based on the national security interests of the United States, such as preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, countering terrorism and preserving our security and that of our allies.
"This overall approach to staunch Iranian aggression cannot be held hostage to the agreement.
"For too long," the majority leader continued, "the Obama administration ignored Iranian harassment of U.S. naval ships in the Persian Gulf, efforts of Shia militias to create a land bridge through Iraq and Syria to Hezbollah and the arming of the Houthis in Yemen.
"The Trump administration now has the opportunity to work with the Congress and our allies to respond appropriately to these actions."
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