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Washington, D.C. – House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul (R-TX) released the following statement after the recent attack on author Salman Rushdie and the news of Iran’s assassination plot against John Bolton amid ongoing talks regarding an Iran nuclear deal.

“I strongly condemn the violent attack on Salman Rushdie. My thoughts are with Mr. Rushdie as he undergoes treatment. While we await details from law enforcement about the attacker’s motivations, we must acknowledge the obvious: Mr. Rushdie has long been in peril due to the Iranian regime’s fatwa calling for his murder.

“This week, we learned chilling details of Iran’s plot against John Bolton. And yet, the administration stated that should Iran attack any of our citizens, it will face severe consequences. This is unacceptable. Iran is actively plotting against multiple Americans. Waiting to impose consequences until after an attack is a dereliction of duty.

“The administration’s priority needs to be protecting Americans, not negotiating a flawed nuclear deal. The latest ‘deal’ reportedly includes significant concessions on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) probe of Iran’s past nuclear work and IRGC sanctions. Between these dangerous proposals and the mounting evidence of Iran’s terrorist activity on U.S. soil, I urge the administration to finally withdraw from talks and shift its focus to compelling Iran to stop its malign activities. American lives depend on it.”

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