Pence: We’re sending a message to Iran

House Republican Caucus Chairman Mike Pence (Ind.) on Friday adamantly advocated for his House bill on Iran and “respectfully disagreed” with President Obama’s position.

The House is currently debating H.Res. 560, which Pence introduced and was reworked by House Foreign Relations Chairman Howard Berman (D-Calif.).

The legislation, Pence said on MSNBC, is a “word of support not to one candidate over another but to the people of Iran who I really believe have gotten a whiff of freedom here.”

Here is the main tenets of the legislation:

Resolved, That the House of Representatives–

• (1) expresses its support for all Iranian citizens who embrace the values of freedom, human rights, civil liberties, and rule of law;

• (2) condemns the ongoing violence against demonstrators by the Government of Iran and pro-government militias, as well as the ongoing government suppression of independent electronic communication through interference with the Internet and cellphones; and

• (3) affirms the universality of individual rights and the importance of democratic and fair elections.

Pence disagreed Obama’s refusal to strongly condemn the violence in Iran. Obama has said it would be unproductive for the U.S. to act in a way that could be construed as meddling in the election.

“The administration has drawn the line where they see fit,” Pence said. “I respectfully disagree with the president.”

“Despite the calls by many commentators for America to, essentially, stay neutral,” Pence added, “the American people, through their congress…is going to condemn the violence.”

jeremy.jacobs@digital-staging.thehill.com