Press Releases

On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) joined America’s Newsroom to discuss the recent deployment of 1,000 additional U.S. troops to the Middle East to address threats in the region and rising tensions with Iran.

“The troops [deployed] are being requested by the Commander in the field in response to what the Iranians are doing, [which is] lashing out,” Waltz said. “What the Iranians are trying to do is to create leverage.

On Monday, the Defense Department announced it will deploy 1,000 more U.S. troops to the Middle East for defensive purposes. Earlier on Monday, Iran threatened to breach the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (Iran Deal) and exceed limits on uranium stockpiles. That information comes after two oil tankers were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz last week. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said U.S. intelligence found Iran responsible for the attacks.

Waltz also responded to comments from Democrats in Congress like Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) who placed the blame on President Trump for heightened tensions due to the U.S. leaving the Iran deal last year.

“That ignores the fact that Iran is supporting terrorism all over the region – in Syria, in Iraq and in Yemen. It’s developing a missile program in violation of U.N. sanctions and it’s holding Americans hostage as we speak. The notion that Iran was behaving responsibly before the President withdrew from the Iran deal is patently false. That ignores facts and ignores history, from the hostages to the Beirut bombing in the 1980s, to killing over 500 American soldiers during the Iraq war,” Waltz said.

Waltz also discussed Operation Praying Mantis, an attack by U.S. forces in retaliation for the Iranian mining of the Persian Gulf during the 1980s.

“I would support [similar moves to] those actions moving forward today as a deterrent and as a defensive measure,” said Waltz.

A video of the exchange is available here.