U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), joined a bipartisan, bicameral letter to President Joe Biden regarding allegations of threats and intimidation by Iran against U.S. citizens and corporations which have prevented the transfer of oil from the Suez Rajan, a seized oil tanker anchored outside of Galveston, Texas.
The 800,000 barrels of oil on the Suez Rajan are valued at $56 million and the sale of the seized product would contribute additional resources to the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund.
“The ability for a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) to prevent the transfer of seized assets within U.S. territorial waters is an unprecedented intimidation effort that threatens to undermine our Nation’s security,” the senators wrote. “No American citizen or company should ever fear retaliation from an FTO for assisting in law enforcement activities or engaging in lawful commerce.”
The senators asked President Biden to work expeditiously to resolve the delay in the transfer of seized oil from the Suez Rajan and continue to enforce the law against Foreign Terrorist Organizations, such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
“The enforcement of petroleum sanctions will become irrelevant if American citizens and companies involved live in fear of Iranian retaliation. It is imperative that the Administration make clear that Iran and designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations cannot prevent our government from carrying out legitimate law enforcement operations,” the senators wrote.
In addition to Senator Cramer, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and U.S. Representatives Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Jim Banks (R-IN), Don Davis (D-NC), and Max Miller (R-OH).
Source » senate