WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., pushed back on President Biden’s consideration of delisting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in exchange for the approval of a new nuclear deal with Iran.

The Senators and 12 of their colleagues expressed their concerns in a letter to the President, highlighting the fact the IRGC is responsible for hundreds of American deaths and remains a threat to U.S. interests.

“Not only would this removal be wildly misguided, but it would betray our partners and allies in the region—particularly Israel and the Gulf states,” wrote the Senators. “These allies and partners already hold concerns that the United States is reducing its regional presence. The enactment of such a deal would provide the Iranian regime access to funds that it would use to destabilize the region through terrorist proxies.”

The letter follows reports that President Biden and his diplomatic team are in talks to finalize negotiations related to Iran’s nuclear program and reviving the Iran Nuclear Deal.  Delisting the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps would be a potential precondition for an agreement. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley told the Senate Armed Services Committee last week that he did not support delisting the IRGC given its recent activities.

“When it comes to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the realities are grim. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is actively trying to kill U.S. politicians and public servants on U.S. soil—most notably, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo,” the Senators continued. “The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is responsible for the deaths of more than 600 American troops…[it] has shown no meaningful change in conduct and is actively engaging in terrorist activities.”

“We humbly request that you meet this test of resolve and conscience by publicly and categorically rejecting any discussion of delisting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a Foreign Terrorist Organization,” the Senators conclude.

The letter was led by Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., which is available here.