GOP Senate Armed Services chair comes out against Iran deal

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), the chair of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee, said Thursday he was “concerned” the U.S.-negotiated memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz “negotiates away the victories of Operation Epic Fury in ways that are completely out of step with the President’s goals.”

“Specifically, the $300 billion fund for the reconstruction and economic development of Iran – though not funded by U.S. taxpayers – would make Iran’s payoff under President Obama’s 2015 deal look like a pittance by comparison,” Wicker said in a statement. 

The Mississippi lawmaker joins other GOP senators offering pushback against the deal with Iran. They have criticized provisions in the deal that would immediately lift sanctions on Iranian oil exports and could lead to unfreezing of Tehran’s assets worldwide.

The MOU would allow Iran to get $300 billion in funds, if the country honors the agreement, to rebuild. In exchange, Tehran has agreed not to build nuclear weapons and hand over........

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