Cornhusker State News

During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) questioned Michael Waltz, nominee for Ambassador to the United Nations, about the need for allied nations to implement snapback sanctions against Iran.

“It’s absolutely critical that the E3 do those snapback sanctions.  Will you [Waltz] commit to working with them to push them to get that snapback in place?” said Ricketts. “One of the things that Iran always says is that they want this program for peaceful means, yet there’s no reason they need an enrichment program. 23 other nations have nuclear power without enrichment facilities. The only way we can ensure they don’t have a nuclear program, is if they don’t have any enrichment facilities.”

Ricketts also addressed concerns about anti-Semitism at the United Nations during his remarks.

“You mentioned in your opening remarks the anti-Semitism that is rampant in the United Nations. You gave the statistic that there were more resolutions targeting Israel than all other nations combined—by double,” said Ricketts. “I have seen nothing from the U.N. calling on Hamas to surrender. That is exactly how this conflict would end. The people in Gaza would be able to start looking for a better way of life once that terrorist organization surrenders.”

The committee hearing also included consideration of nominations for John Arrigo as Ambassador to Portugal and Christine Toretti as Ambassador to Sweden.