Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - 4/16/2025… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, sent a letter to U.S. Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, urging him to reject any nuclear agreement with Iran that allows the regime to retain enrichment capabilities or reverts to the failed policies of the past.

The letter was sent in response to Witkoff’s recent appearance on Fox News, where he appeared to entertain the idea of allowing Iran to enrich uranium up to 3.67% under a future agreement, with verification mechanisms in place. In his letter, Lawler condemned such a framework as dangerously reminiscent of the failed Obama-era Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“‘Peace through strength’ and ‘maximum pressure’ require the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, as well as the full implementation of sanctions on Iran and Iran’s enablers. Anything less would be appeasement and a betrayal of U.S. national security interests and the security of our partners in the region, including Israel and Saudi Arabia,” wrote Chairman Lawler.

“A return to the JCPOA or a similar arrangement will hurt our long-term goals in the Middle East and enable the Iranian regime to further develop and fund its malign activities. The stakes could not be higher,” Chairman Lawler concluded in his letter.

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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The full letter can be found HERE