Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Says He 'Would Prefer That We Not Provide Additional Resources to Iran'

Press Release

Today, in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte questioned Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford on Iran's ballistic missile program and support for terrorism, as well as the administration's decision to covertly pay Iran $1.7 billion in cash-including a $400 million ransom payment for the release of American hostages. According to a recent report, this cash payment will help directly fund the Iranian military. In his response to Ayotte, General Dunford identified Iran as the lead sponsor of terrorism and confirmed that Iran continues to test ballistic missiles. General Dunford called reports that the Iranian military was benefiting directly from the Obama administration's cash payment "troubling" and said Iran will be "more effective" in spreading malign influence with the additional funds. He also testified that, "...I would prefer that we not provide additional resources to Iran..."

Ayotte: "General Dunford, does Iran continue to be one of the lead sponsors of terrorism around the world?"

Gen. Dunford: "They are, Senator. I describe their major export as "malign influence.'"
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Ayotte: "Recently, we learned that the $1.7 billion in cash relief that the administration has provided Iran has gone directly to the Revolutionary Guard Corps. I don't know if you were aware of that. In fact, the Iranian Parliament... passed a law that essentially said if there was a legal settlement from a foreign country - which is how this $1.7 billion cash payment has been characterized - it would go directly to the military. Does that trouble you, that they are taking the proceeds that we are giving them and funding their military?"

Dunford: "...It certainly is troubling. The more funds [the Iranian military has] available, obviously, the more effective they will be in spreading malign influence."
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Ayotte: "We've learned about this $400 million in cash [that the administration paid to Iran] - that would be included in the $1.7 billion that I referenced - for release of the American hostages... Do you think it's a good idea that we should exchange cash to a country like Iran - that you've already confirmed is one of the largest state sponsors of terrorism - in exchange for hostages? ...They've now taken at least three more American hostages."

Dunford: "...On principle, I would prefer that we not provide additional resources to Iran..."
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Dunford: "I am under no illusion of what Iran is intending to do...We are mindful of the capabilities that they are developing as well."

Ayotte has repeatedly called out the administration for making concessions to Iran - the world's worst state sponsor of terrorism - including sending a secret ransom payment to secure the release of Americans held hostage in Tehran. When Ayotte learned the $1.7 billion payment will help directly fund Iran's military, Ayotte sounded the alarm, sending a letter to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper asking for further details into this deeply troubling report. Ayotte also sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury regarding the Department's role in the ransom cash payment to Iran.

In addition, Ayotte helped introduce the No Ransom Payments Act of 2016, which would prohibit the federal government from paying ransom, and stop payments to Iran from the U.S. Treasury Department's Judgment Fund until Iran returns the ransom money it received and pays American victims of Iranian terrorism what they are owed.

In response to Iran's ballistic missile tests, Ayotte introduced the Iran Ballistic Missile Sanctions Act of 2016, which would impose tough primary and secondary sanctions on every sector of the Iranian economy that directly or indirectly supports Iran's ballistic missile program.

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