In a bold move, Rep.
Mike Lawler (R-NY) led a group of 40 lawmakers in penning a letter to President Donald Trump on Thursday.
The letter urged the President to deny entry to Iranian regime officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, who are set to attend the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York. The lawmakers warned, "They are criminals. They support terrorism. They sow hatred and instability across the Middle East."
As reported by Breitbart, the congressional letter emphasized the need to prevent the Iranian delegation from using the U.N. platform to project a misleading image of moderation. The lawmakers wrote, We respectfully urge you to restrict the Iranian delegations freedom of movement, and, to the extent possible, refrain from issuing visas to key delegation members, including for its President, Masoud Pezeshkian.
The letter highlighted the Iranian regime's recent violent repression following a 12-day war with Israel, which saw the arbitrary arrest of hundreds of ethnic minorities, civil society leaders, womens rights activists, and others. The lawmakers also drew attention to the execution of two opposition political party members, Behrouz Ehsani and Mehdi Hassani, on July 27, 2025, and the placement of over a dozen others on death row.
The lawmakers underscored the alarming surge in executions under Pezeshkians rule, with nearly 1,500 people, including political prisoners, executed in just one year. This follows a record year in 2024, when Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneis regime carried out more than 1,000 executions amid a sweeping crackdown on dissent.
The letter warned, "The regime is anything but moderate, as the dramatic uptick in executions in Iran show. They are criminals. They support terrorism. They sow hatred and instability across the Middle East which poses a direct threat to U.S. interests."
The lawmakers argued that barring Tehrans officials from exploiting the U.N. stage is both a moral obligation and a matter of national security. They wrote, In solidarity with the Iranian people, who are calling for a multi-party, secular, democratic, non-nuclear republic of Iran, and in furtherance of U.S. national security interests, we urge you to use the full force of the law to prevent the Iranian regime from exploiting the United Nations General Assembly meeting.
Among those who joined Lawler in signing the letter were Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY).
This move follows President Trump's previous actions to prevent hostile actors from using the U.N. stage. In July, the administration blocked Palestinian Authority officials from traveling to New York to lobby for statehood recognition.
Last month, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) confirmed that Palestinian leaders were denied visas to enter the U.S. Concurrently, European leaders have initiated the process of restoring snapback sanctions on Tehran, indicating a growing international effort to return to maximum pressure.
The lawmakers concluded their letter by urging President Trump to maintain his firm stance against the Iranian regimes ongoing support for terrorism and human rights abuses.
They wrote, We urge you to take a strong stand against the Iranian regimes ongoing support for terrorism and human rights abuses, in line with your dedication toward Peace through Strength and the maximum pressure campaign against the regime. We look forward to working with you to further oppose the destructive and destabilizing influence of the government of Iran and support the Iranian people on the world stage."
The lawmakers' call to action reflects a commitment to uphold traditional values, individual freedom, and national security, aligning with the conservative perspective. Their stance against the Iranian regime's human rights abuses and support for terrorism underscores the importance of maintaining a strong, principled foreign policy.
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