[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 24 (Monday, February 10, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H1689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                  IRAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Holding) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HOLDING. Mr. Speaker, over the last several weeks, I have come to 
the House floor on numerous occasions to talk about the interim nuclear 
agreement that this administration is negotiating with Iran. I have 
come here to discuss exactly what that administration is--or, more 
importantly, isn't--negotiating and what that means for our national 
security and the stability of the region as a whole.
  While there can be no question that we need to continue having that 
discussion about whatever else the regime in Tehran decides to do, like 
send warships off of our eastern coast, we also need to take some time 
to discuss what exactly the real power brokers in Iran are doing when 
they aren't talking about destroying Israel or attacking America.
  Many of my colleagues have been down on this very floor before to 
discuss the oppressive nature of the Iranian regime. It is important 
that we remind folks just how tyrannical those who are in power there 
really are.
  So, just what exactly have we seen since the election of the self-
described moderate President in Iran? We have largely seen the 
continuation of the same human rights abuses that we have seen for 
years in Iran. We have seen the grip of Tehran's media and Internet 
sensors tighten since Mr. Rouhani came to power. Web sites have been 
restricted and mobile phone applications have also been blocked. There 
have also been reports of numerous newspapers and blogs being shut down 
altogether and their reporters and editors being arrested.
  Now, what do they all have in common, Mr. Speaker? What they have in 
common is these people advocate for reform and are critical of the 
regime in Iran. We have seen a number of Iran's executions occur at an 
alarming rate since Mr. Rouhani took office. There are many theories as 
to why this is happening, but the fact remains, somewhere upwards of 60 
people are being executed each month in Iran. Some of these executions 
are being carried out in public with those in charge intentionally 
leaving the bodies to hang from construction cranes in public areas.
  We have seen the persecution of religious minorities. We should all 
support freedom of religion, and the regime's persistent crackdowns and 
arrests of Christians, the Baha'is, and other religious minorities 
should trouble everyone.
  Mr. Speaker, as I have talked about before, Iran continues to prop up 
Hezbollah across the Middle East. Their involvement across the region 
is widely noted. Of particular concern should be their connection to 
Syria. Iran sends trained murderers and weapons to prolong the brutal 
civil war that continues to destroy Syria, separate families, and cause 
millions to flee their country.
  Sadly, this is not even a comprehensive list of what goes on inside 
of Iran. We could discuss their appalling human rights trafficking 
record or their full record of sponsoring terrorism, in addition to 
what we have already discussed.
  Why is all of this important when we are talking about the 
administration's pursuit of a nuclear deal with Iran? Two reasons: 
first, it should serve as a stark reminder of just whom exactly the 
Obama administration is really negotiating with; second, it shows the 
true intentions and belief of those that are really in power in Iran. 
It shows the disconnect between the rhetoric of the self-described 
moderate President and what is really going on within Iran's borders. 
Above all, it shows where the real power lies, which is in the hands of 
the Supreme Leader of Iran.
  To forget about the plight of the Iranian people and not address what 
happens domestically in Iran would be a failure, plain and simple, and 
one which will continue to cost innocent lives.

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