Iran, Lebanon, and the UN May Finally Lose U.S. Aid

(NewsGlobal.com)- Last week, the Republican Study Committee in the House released its FY2023 budget proposal that includes slashing funding to the United Nations, as well as the countries of Lebanon and Iraq.

In addition to slashing foreign aid projects that benefit Iranian-backed terror groups like Hezbollah, the Republican Study Committee also wants to codify legislation barring the Biden administration from spending taxpayer money to implement a new nuclear deal with Iran. In short, killing a potential nuclear deal the instant it is signed.

The Study Committee also wants to increase US funding to Israel to help counter Iran and its terror proxies.

While such budget proposals will go nowhere in a Democrat-controlled House, the budget is meant as a blueprint for a Republican-led House should they take the majority in November’s midterms.

According to Congressman Jim Banks, the chair of the Republican Study Committee, the RSC’s budget offers a blueprint “for taking on Iran’s terrorist regime, Putin’s aggression, and the new threat of jihadist terrorists in Afghanistan.”

The proposed budget would slash US funding to any of Iran’s “puppet regimes in the Middle East,” especially Hezbollah-controlled Lebanon. The US has long provided aid to the Lebanese Armed Forces despite their loyalty to Hezbollah.

The Republican Study Committee also wants to cut taxpayer funding to Iraq’s Ministries of Interior and Defense both of which work closely with Iraqi militant groups with ties to Tehran. These groups have claimed responsibility for attacks on US interests in Iraq, including the 2019 strike on the US Embassy in Baghdad.

The Republicans also want to cut funding to United Nations programs in areas of Syria that are controlled by Bashar al Assad.

The budget “blueprint” also includes a package of sanctions on Iran that the Republicans claim is the toughest in history. The sanctions provision is meant to send a message to both the White House and Tehran that any sanctions relief granted as part of a new nuclear deal won’t make it through a Republican Congress.

The proposal also calls for an increase in funding for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system.