Press Releases

On Monday, U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) discussed the decision to halt military strikes on Iran with Fox Business News’ Maria Bartiromo.

“I do think the Iranians will continue to push,” Waltz said. “They’re like a schoolyard bully that will continue taking lunch money until they’re stopped. So that was some of my concern with not conducting the strike was that at some point, Iranians will have to be met with force.”

Economic pressure, Waltz said, is what will open the door to negotiations with Iran, pointing to the effects of similar sanctions in 2012. Iran’s economy is buckling – its revenue from oil has been cut by at least two-thirds as a result of mounting economic sanctions.

“The reason Iran came to the table in 2012 for the Iran deal…is because they became desperate. The thing the regime cares about the most is not the Iranian people, it’s its own pocketbook and own survival,” Waltz said.

Waltz supports continuing economic pressure on Iran and applauded the President’s decision to place more sanctions on the country on Monday.

“The President does want to use this [economic pressure] as leverage to drive people back to the table and have a diplomatic solution. For everyone wringing their hands that this President is a warmonger, I think he’s showing them they’re absolutely wrong but that he will use a military option if pushed and the United States will respond – and I think that’s a very clear-eyed and pragmatic approach.”

A video of the exchange is available here.