[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 14, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S170]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                  Iran

  Mr. THUNE. Madam President, this week we expect to vote on a War 
Powers Resolution related to operations in Iran. I am pleased that the 
President's demonstration of strength has restored our position of 
credible deterrence. Some have challenged that the President's action 
was escalatory, but the reality is that Iran had become increasingly 
bold. The United States responded in self-defense, and, as the 
President has said, it appears that Iran is standing down.
  Hopefully Iran's tragic error in shooting down a civilian passenger 
plane has served as a sobering check on the regime's activities. We 
have seen thousands of Iranians rallying in the streets in recent days 
protesting the bringing down of the passenger plane and calling for 
change. I hope the people of Iran are able to organize and demonstrate 
in safety and that their hopes and prayers for change are answered.
  Soleimani's death provides an opportunity for Iran to rethink its 
direction, to move away from brutally oppressing its citizens and 
fomenting violence throughout the Middle East. We should encourage such 
rethinking by continuing to make it clear through the sanctions the 
President has imposed and other measures that we will not accept 
Iranian aggression against Americans or our allies.