Former Vice President Mike Pence’s advocacy group on Thursday published a memo urging the Trump administration to deploy a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran in the wake of strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
The memo, which was obtained first by The Hill, argues that the administration “would be wise” to use a maximum pressure strategy against Iran as President Trump has indicated a willingness to engage with Tehran.
“President Trump delivered a critical blow to Iran’s attempt to achieve nuclear breakout status, sending Iran’s uranium enrichment program back years,” the memo states. “Even still, as the Trump administration begins to re-engage with Iran, it would be wise to return to its Maximum Pressure posture from the first administration and take heed of the charged situation inside the country.”
The memo outlines three key actions for the administration to take. First, it urges the administration to prohibit all uranium enrichment. Second, it calls for imposing “severe sanctions” on the Iranian regime, similar to the ones used during the first Trump administration when Pence was vice president.
The memo also calls for engagement with the Iranian opposition and the right of the Iranian people to “determine their own destiny by establishing a truly democratic republic, as bipartisan majorities of the House of Representatives have resolved.”
Pence was among those who praised Trump after the president ordered strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities in June. The former vice president said the administration did “what really needed to be done.”
While Trump has insisted Iran cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, he has also left the door open at times to engaging with Tehran and has said he would like to see the Iranian economy do well.
Pence has emerged as an outspoken critic of Trump and his administration on certain issues, most notably on tariffs and the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
But the former vice president has also used his advocacy group to push for policies that align with the White House, such as extending the tax cuts signed into law in 2017.
