01.13.16

Sullivan: Obama Administration's Response to Iranian Detention of 10 American Sailors is a Disgrace

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) released the following statement today about Secretary of State John Kerry expressing “gratitude” to Iran for releasing ten American sailors which it took hostage: 

“In the aftermath of ten U.S. sailors being taken hostage and then released by the Iranians, Secretary of State John Kerry expressed ‘gratitude to Iranian authorities for their cooperation.' Expressing gratitude—after Iran takes ten American service members hostage and publishes photos of them on their knees—sends the wrong message to the world and our allies. What about outrage? Humiliation at the hands of the Iranians has become a sad hallmark of the Obama Administration.  

“Secretary Kerry’s reaction mirrors the apparent lack of outrage or urgency in the freeing of five other Americans being held captive in Iran, as well as other recent hostile acts by Iran, including the firing of rockets near a U.S. aircraft carrier, and the country’s testing of ballistic missiles in clear violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1929.  

“I find it remarkable, and disgraceful that the Obama Administration continues to move forward with billions of dollars in sanctions relief for the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, a regime that has demonstrated clearly after the signing of the nuclear deal it has every intention of continuing its destabilizing, provocative behavior that undermines the national security interests of our country.” 

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