Have We ‘Surrendered’ to Iran and Abandoned Pastor Saeed?

In the Obama administration’s recent “deal” with Iran, the U.S. gave the radical regime relief from sanctions, legitimized its nuclear program, allowed it to continue enriching uranium, and didn’t even ask for the release of American pastor Saeed Abedini in return.

So, how did Iran respond to the deal? Unsurprisingly, much the same way we did. Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, tweeted Tuesday morning that the Obama administration “surrendered” to the will of Iran.

“Our relationship w/ the world is based on Iranian nation’s interests. In #Geneva agreement world powers surrendered to Iranian nation’s will,” Rouhani wrote in a tweet that has since been deleted.

This brazen and defiant response is the natural result of our administration’s lack of resolve. The Obama administration caved and Iran knows it. Even worse, Iran isn’t afraid to say exactly how it feels and what it plans to do.

Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator recently boldly stated in a public interview that as a result of the nuclear “deal,” “No facility will be closed; enrichment will continue, and qualitative and nuclear research will be expanded. All research into a new generation of centrifuges will continue.”

While Iran continues to press on toward nuclear weapons, President Obama is doing everything within his power to prevent the passage of any new sanctions on Iran.

Renewed sanctions have gained wide bipartisan support. As the New York Times reports: “Sponsors of the bill, which would aim to drive Iran’s oil exports down to zero, have secured the backing of 59 senators, putting them within striking distance of a two-thirds majority that could override Mr. Obama’s threatened veto. Republicans overwhelmingly support the bill. So far 16 Democrats have broken with the president, and the bill’s sponsors hope to get more.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is blocking efforts to bring this crucial bill to a vote, and President Obama has already threatened to veto any new sanctions.

Iran clearly does not respond favorably to weakness. It will only respond to strength. Renewed sanctions against this worldwide sponsor of terror, which is devastatingly defying the human rights of numerous Christians including Abedini, is a key to stopping its nuclear ambitions and freeing Pastor Saeed.

Matthew Clark is associate counsel for government affairs and media advocacy with the ACLJ. A lifelong citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia, he lives with his wife and three boys in Northern Virginia. Follow Matthew Clark on Twitter at @_MatthewClark. This article is crossposted on RedState.com.