On April 16, 2025, Congressman Mike Lawler, representing New York’s 17th Congressional District and Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, reached out to U.S. Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, through a formal letter. The correspondence urged rejection of any nuclear deal with Iran that includes allowances for the country to maintain nuclear enrichment capabilities.
Lawler’s communication followed Witkoff’s appearance on Fox News, where he seemed open to Iran enriching uranium to a level of 3.67% under a proposed agreement, providing that verification measures are enforced. Lawler expressed strong disapproval of this approach, equating it to the “failed Obama-era Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).”
Lawler stated, “‘Peace through strength’ and ‘maximum pressure’ require the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, as well as the full implementation of sanctions on Iran and Iran’s enablers. Anything less would be appeasement and a betrayal of U.S. national security interests and the security of our partners in the region, including Israel and Saudi Arabia.”
He further argued, “A return to the JCPOA or a similar arrangement will hurt our long-term goals in the Middle East and enable the Iranian regime to further develop and fund its malign activities. The stakes could not be higher.”
Lawler is a notable bipartisan figure in Congress, representing an area north of New York City covering parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. In the 118th Congress, he was ranked as the most effective freshman lawmaker and the eighth most effective overall.
