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WASHINGTON, D.C. – At today’s Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) questioned Victoria Nuland, the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, on potentially designating Russia a state sponsor of terrorism and its role in the negotiations of the Iran nuclear deal.

Barrasso also pressed Nuland about the importance of a robust North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) presence in the Black Sea and ways in which we can safeguard American energy security without having to turn to our adversaries.

On Russia Being a State Sponsor of Terrorism:

“Earlier today, Ukrainian President Zelensky asked the Parliament of the United Kingdom to designate Russia as a terrorist country.

“Is Russia a state sponsor of terrorism?”

Click here to watch Sen. Barrasso’s comments on designating Russia a state sponsor of terrorism.

On Russia Being Involved in the Iran Nuclear Deal:

“One thing we visited about last night in the closed session, I want to go to an open session now, and that is Russia’s involvement with the Iranian nuclear deal and the negotiations there. It does seem, as I mentioned, to me that we would be dealing with Russia as somewhat of a partner in coming up with an Iran deal?

“At the same time what we see is this brutal, terrorist, murderer Vladimir Putin killing people. I have a lot of problems with that decision regularly.

“I see the Russian envoy recently bragged about how much they helped Iran get a much more than they were expecting in this Iranian deal with the United States and the envoy stated, ‘realistically speaking, Iran got more than frankly I expected, others expected.’

“So, that’s from us. The United States. The people on this side of the aisle are not for this Iran deal at all, I think it’s a mistake for our nation and our nation’s security.

“Reports indicate Russia worked to secure Iran’s rights for nuclear energy and to remove sanctions.

“How much money is Iran going to get from these proposed sanctions relief as part of the Biden Administration Iran deal that they are cutting now while Russia is in the middle of attacking Ukraine?”

Click here to watch Sen. Barrasso’s comments on the Iran nuclear deal.

On Maintaining a Robust NATO Presence in the Black Sea:

“In terms of the Black Sea, as we had a chance to look at some maps last night and we think about an overview of the Black Sea, I think about what NATO did very successfully with the Baltic Air Policing mission to safeguard the integrity of the NATO Alliance members a number of years ago in terms of air space.

“I’m wondering if that can serve as a model for efforts to maintain a robust NATO presence in the Black Sea? What are your view on NATO establishing a Black Sea maritime patrol mission, a regular rotational maritime presence in the Black Sea?”

Click here to watch Sen. Barrasso’s comments on NATO’s presence in the Black Sea.

On Protecting American Energy Security:

“In terms of energy security, and the decision made by the president today [to ban Russian oil], which I agree with, I think the energy to replace what we got from Russia ought to be coming from the United States.

“I think it’s a mistake to go and ask Iran for more energy.

“It’s a mistake to go to Venezuela for more energy, which seems to be what this administration is doing: moving from one dictator, thug, to another.

“Can I get your thoughts on that?

Follow Up:

“I appreciate your comments that energy prices were high prior to all of this and that to me is a direct result of the policies of this administration.

“As John Kerry, former Secretary of State said, ‘he hoped what was happening in Russia and in Ukraine did not distract from his climate agenda.’

“I think that is a very terrible mistake to be the position of the United States.”

Click here to watch Sen. Barrasso’s comments on energy security.

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