Congressman Randy Weber (R) led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the U.S. Department of State to continue publicly condemning the Iranian regime's violent repression of peaceful protesters.
The appeal follows mounting reports of lethal force, mass arrests, and intimidation of civilians by Iranian authorities amid ongoing unrest.
In the letter, signed by 59 members of Congress, lawmakers warned that the regime's crackdown has escalated beyond street-level violence to include attacks on civilian infrastructure. The signatories raised serious concerns about reports that Iranian authorities have targeted hospitals and medical facilities and denied injured protesters access to urgent medical care.
The lawmakers say that these actions constitute grave violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
"The Iranian people have made clear their demand for a secular, democratic, non-nuclear republic grounded in political pluralism and respect for human dignity," the lawmakers wrote. "Protesters have also explicitly rejected all forms of authoritarian rule, whether Iran's former monarchy dictatorship or its current theocratic system, and seek the right to determine their own future."
The letter reflects bipartisan concern in Congress over Iran's treatment of civilians and reinforces calls for the U.S. to use its diplomatic voice to spotlight abuses and support those seeking political and human rights.
Lawmakers argue that sustained public condemnation is essential to countering the regime's attempts to suppress dissent and evade international scrutiny.
