New York GOP Rep. Mike Lawler on Thursday urged President Donald Trump in a letter to restrict the visas of certain Iranian officials and their movement in the United States, ahead of the United Nations’ (UN) general assembly next week.
Global leaders are expected to gather in New York City next Monday for the general assembly, where some leaders are expected to recognize a Palestinian state as part of a so-called two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
Lawler, who serves as chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, highlighted Iran’s worsening human rights abuses and its support for terrorism in the wake of its 12-day war with Israel.
The congressman noted that several regime officials have expressed a desire to replicate a 1988 massacre in Iran in which 30,000 political prisoners were killed. He also noted that in one year, 1,500 people have been killed under Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, including political prisoners.
“In solidarity with the Iranian people, who are calling for a multi-party, secular, democratic, nonnuclear republic of Iran, and in furtherance of U.S. national security interests, we urge you to use the full force of the law to prevent the Iranian regime from exploiting the United Nations General Assembly meeting to present a deceptive image of moderation,” Lawler wrote.
“The regime is anything but moderate, as the dramatic uptick in executions in Iran show,” he continued. “They are criminals. They support terrorism. They sow hatred and instability across the Middle East, which poses a direct threat to U.S. interests.”
Dozens of other lawmakers also signed the letter, including Texas GOP Rep. Randy Weber, who has been a champion of the Iranian American community in Congress.
Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.Â
