Ted Cruz Leads Protest Against Iran Deal, Highlights Four Americans Held Hostage by Regime

Washington, D.C. — Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) was the featured speaker Thursday at a rally outside of the White House demanding Iran release four Americans taken hostage by the regime in Tehran.

The junior Senator from Texas and Republican candidate for President of the United States called on the Ayatollah to release the four American hostages: Saeed Abdedini, Amir Hekmati, Jason Rezaian, and Robert Levinson.

Abedini is a 34-year-old Pastor from Boise, Idaho who has been imprisoned since 2012, when he was in the process in building a local orphanage in Iran.

Hekmati is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and has been in an Iranian jail for almost four years. He served during Operation Iraqi Freedom and received multiple commendations for his outstanding service to the country. In January, 2012, Hekmati was thrown in jail and charged with Moharebeh (waging war against God).

Rezaian was a Tehran-based reporter for the Washington Post, before he was swept up by Iranian authorities and charged with espionage.

Levinson, a former criminal investigative agent, was abducted by regime police in 2007 after researching black market smuggling issues. He remains classified as “missing” by officials in the country.

Sen. Cruz explained that if the deal goes through without being rejected by Congress, Iran would receive at least $100 billion dollars in funds it could use to finance and arm terrorist organizations worldwide.

Cruz was continuously heckled by protesters from Code Pink, a militant leftist organization. Yet, instead of ignoring the protesters, Cruz engaged Code Pink leader Madea Benjamin in a dialogue over Iran’s nuclear program.

He noted that Benjamin, in her plea to support the “peace” gained from the nuclear deal, ignored Cruz’s point that countless lives would be lost because of the deal.

“I recognize that the folks with Code Pink like to hold up signs that say, Peace with Iran,’” Cruz said.

“Do you know who doesn’t reciprocate those views? Iran,” he explained, talking about how Iran holds regime-sponsored national holidays each year calling for “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”

The protest, which was sponsored by Concerned Women for America, also featured Congresswoman Vicki Hartzler (R-MO), who called for a “better deal” with the Iranian regime.