"The Iranian threat grows stronger each day, and it is directly threatening the lives of our men and women serving in Afghanistan. Iranian-made weapons, including Iran’s signature roadside bomb, rifles, C-4 plastic explosives, and mortars have been found in Afghanistan and used by Taliban-led insurgents against our troops.

"Pressure is all that Tehran responds to. The Iranian regime must be made to feel the unbearable burden of comprehensive crippling sanctions. I urge the full House and Senate to move quickly to adopt the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act and send it to the President’s desk before the end of the year.

"We all remember the Iran hostage crisis where 53 Americans were held captive – almost all for 444 days. Iran was responsible for American lives lost in the Beirut embassy compound, the embassy annex, and the Marine barracks bombings. Iran was behind the Khobar Towers attack in Saudi Arabia. Iran has been providing all types of support to extremists in Iraq who have also claimed countless American lives. And Iran has added Americans in Afghanistan to their target list.

"How many more Americans will die or be severely injured by Iranian weapons or by Iranian-supported extremists before the U.S. takes a stand and holds the regime in Tehran accountable? We owe it to our brave men and women who have risked and continue to risk their lives in the service of our nation to address the Iranian threat now."