One of Congress’s leading human rights defenders quickly backed up President Donald Trump’s historic strikes on Iran — and urged the 47th president to keep up his maximum pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic.
Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (R., Fla.), one of the strongest advocates for human rights in Cuba, turned his attention to the Middle East following Trump’s successful stikes on Iran.
“For nearly five decades, Iranians have endured repression, violence, and torture at the hands of the evil Iranian regime, a regime that exports terrorism, brutally suppresses dissent at home, and openly threatens the United States and our allies,” Díaz-Balart said. The longtime lawmaker is the House Appropriations Committee Vice Chair and Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, the Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP).
“I commend President Donald Trump for standing in solidarity with the brave Iranian people, who continue to demand freedom, dignity, and basic human rights despite ruthless crackdowns. Hundreds of protesters have been killed simply for exercising those rights,” he added.
Díaz-Balart also delved into how “Americans and the world are safer because of President Trump’s leadership and maximum pressure strategy.”
Across both his terms in office, Trump has taken a historically tough stance against Iran. Among the highlights that Díaz-Balart cited were “the removal of terrorist Qasem Soleimani and last year’s decisive action to obliterate Iran’s nuclear sites, demonstrating that deterrence and strength, not appeasement, will lead to a safer and more secure future for all.
