Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Inhofe
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today questioned Lieutenant General Michael Kurilla, nominated to be general and Commander of U.S. Central Command, about the risks posed by providing Iran with sanctions relief and how the U.S. can support its Kurdish friends.
Inhofe: In the past year, Iran and its proxies have escalated their regional aggression. Hamas launched more than 4,300 rockets at Israel during the May 2021 conflict; the Houthis have increased their attacks on civilian targets in Saudi Arabia and the UAE; and Iran-backed militias in Iraq routinely target U.S. personnel, property and partners. All of this happened while the Biden administration is focusing on returning to the flawed Iran deal, which could provide billions of dollars in sanctions relief for the Iranian regime.
General Kurilla, based on what you’ve observed of Iran in the past, would you expect Iran to spend at least some of that sanctions relief on its terrorist proxies? And, if so, how would this affect the security of our forces in the CENTCOM region?
Kurilla: Senator, there is a risk with sanctions relief that Iran would use some of that money to support its proxies and terrorism in the region. If they did, it could increase risks to our forces in the region.
Inhofe: General Kurilla, I have visited for many many times our friend Masoud Barzani in Erbil many times over the years. The Iraqi Kurds are among our most reliable partners in the region, and I believe it’s important to ensure continued and reliable support to our Kurdish friends, in coordination with the Iraqi government.
Gen. Kurilla, do you agree that continued and reliable support to the Kurdish Peshmerga would enhance our partnership and advance our mutual interests in the region? Can you share some insight on the value of our partnership with the Kurds, based on your personal experience because you have that personal experience?
Kurilla: Senator, I’ve worked with our Kurdish partners and found them to be very reliable and very capable. I’ve worked with them since 2004, on my first tour in Iraq, and as recently as the counter-ISIS fight up in 2014. I have found an incredibly capable and reliable partner.
Inhofe: Alright. Thank you.