[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 167 (Tuesday, October 9, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1386]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IRAN IS MAKING A MOCKERY OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 9, 2018

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, Secretary of State 
Pompeo announced the U.S. was ending the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic 
Relations, and Consular Rights with Iran. This justified decision comes 
after three decades of Iran blatantly violating its terms. No other 
state has defied international norms to such severity as Iran. The 
terrorist regime in Tehran has no respect for international law or 
multilateral agreements, and thus should not be shown the respect 
responsible nations are afforded.
  Just earlier this week, a German court ruled that an Iranian diplomat 
violated his diplomatic immunity for participating in an attempted 
terrorist operation in France. Meanwhile, Iranian proxies fired rockets 
at U.S. diplomatic outposts in Iraq. But this was nothing new. Since 
the founding of the Islamic Republic, Iran has flouted all diplomatic 
protocol to pursue its murderous agenda. Its diplomats use their 
special status to facilitate terrorism, assassinate dissidents, and 
pursue sanctions busting schemes. For example, in the early 1990s 
Iranian diplomats in Argentina were deeply involved in the terrorist 
bombings of the Israeli embassy and AMIA Jewish center. This classic 
Iranian behavior continues around the globe today.
  Despite these outrageous acts, Iran has the audacity to pursue legal 
action against the U.S. based on the 1955 treaty, claiming U.S. 
sanctions violate its terms. Yet, the Islamic Republic ignores the fact 
that it terminated the treaty the day it raided the U.S. Embassy in 
Tehran and held U.S. diplomats hostage. That day in 1979 the mullahs in 
Iran replaced amity with hostility. Nevertheless, Iran's Foreign 
Minister blames the U.S., calling us an ``outlaw regime.'' Why any 
nation takes Iran's government seriously is beyond logical explanation.
  By enabling Iran's duplicitous and evil behavior, organizations like 
the International Court of Justice undermine their own legitimacy. What 
justice are the Iranian people shown when they are beat and murdered by 
regime thugs in their own streets? What justice is shown to the victims 
of Iranian supported terrorism around the globe? The ICJ's decision is 
a joke where only the murderers in Tehran are laughing. It is time for 
our partners in the international community to grow a spine and stand 
up to the illegal behavior of the Iranian regime. No nation is safe so 
long as we allow the mullahs in Iran to mock justice rather than be 
held to it.

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