Nonproliferat Subcommittee on Terrorism

Iranian Backed Militias Nonproliferat Subcommittee on Terrorism

The Middle East continues to pose some of the biggest challenges to United States national security. Where there is a threat to our interests in the region we can be sure that Iran and its proxy forces and militias are somewhere in the neighborhood. From Yemen to Afghanistan, Iranian arms can be found in the hands of some of the most dangerous actors. This is part of a calculated strategy by the mullahs in Tehran to assert control over the entire region by expelling the United States. The Iranians believe they are entitled to dominance over anybody else in the region. They provide weapons and support to sectarian individuals who commit atrocities and undermine legitimate government institutions. In Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, Bahrain, and the Palestinian territories, Iran backs violent actors who either rule through brutality or aspire to seize power by eliminating political opposition. Hezbollah in Lebanon is the most prominent one. Now Iran has multiple "Hezbollahs" it can call on to kill and coerce throughout the region. Funded by sanctions relief granted to Iran under the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] and enabled by America's retreat over the past 8 years, Iranian-backed groups are seizing territory, cajoling governments, and hindering our effort to defeat ISIS and al-Qaeda.