Malliotakis Measure Demanding Iran Transparency Passes House & Senate in NDAA

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) today applauded the final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included her legislative language that would require the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to submit a report to Congress that details any Iran-backed kidnapping operations against United States citizens. The language also requires the DNI to devise a strategy to counter, dissuade, and hold Iran accountable for such actions.

Earlier this year, the FBI successfully stoppedan international kidnapping plot orchestrated by an Iranian intelligence network targeting Iranian-American journalist and Brooklyn resident Masih Alinejad. Malliotakis, who partly represents Brooklyn and sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced the measure and pushed for it to become part of the NDAA shortly thereafter.

"With Iran preying on Americans like Alinejad, and the Biden Administration entertaining rejoining the flawed Iran Nuclear Deal, it's critically important that Congress and the public have full access to the facts on any nefarious activities Iran has conducted on American soil so we can work together to prevent them in the future," said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. "This information will not only help us protect Americans, but it will allow us to push back on the Iran Deal and hold the Iranian regime accountable for their malign actions. I’m pleased to see my language included in the final version of the NDAA and urge the Biden Administration to think twice before making any deals with Iran."

Since taking office, Malliotakis, a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, has been at the forefront of pushing for strong foreign policy, homeland security, and national defense. She has been extremely critical of President Biden's reconsideration of the flawed Iran Nuclear Deal that was negotiated when he was Vice President.