WASHINGTON D.C. – On January 3, 2020, Qassem Soleimani, the leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was killed in an airstrike ordered by President Trump. Congressman Randy Weber (TX-14) released the following statement:

"The primary function of any government is to protect its citizens.  Extremist regimes and agents of terror should be met with a policy of unequivocal strength.  America is a peace-loving nation, slow to anger. However, when our security interests are threatened, the certainty that we will defend those interests must be understood without question. Unfortunately, the Obama Administration’s foreign policy apology tours and meaningless red lines undermined our reputation abroad.  While relations with Iran grew increasingly more hostile due to the failed Obama-era foreign policy strategy and feckless nuclear deal with the regime, President Trump began restoring America’s reputation by implementing a foreign policy strategy that works: peace through strength.

While I do not wish for war with Iran, I strongly support President Trump’s decision to strike Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, standing up to Iranian aggression against the U.S. and our allies.  President Trump’s strategic patience, when tested, demonstrated loudly and clearly to the world’s leaders that America will be taken seriously."