Senators on the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs expressed concern during a July 25 hearing about Iran’s support of terrorism in the Middle East.

“Iran has been a sponsor of terrorism,” Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) said. “They continue to be so and they are getting bolder at it from time to time. So it's important that we underscore this. It's important that we bring a focus on this.”

“A nuclear Iran would feel empowered to conduct more terrorist attacks against U.S. and Israeli targets, provide more lethal assistance to Hezbollah and Palestinian militant groups, and give the Quds Force greater freedom to support terrorist groups across the Middle East,” Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) said.

Five Israeli tourists were murdered by a suicide bombing in Bulgaria on July 18. The Israeli government has blamed the terror attack on Iran and its proxy group Hezbollah.

“[Iran] is a supporter of terrorism, that's beyond any dispute,” Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) said. “The fact that they have increased activities against Israeli interest is a major concern to all of us, the fact that they have shipped arms to terrorist organizations from Hezbollah to – to Hamas and other terrorist groups and supporting the Assad regime in Syria, all those give us great concern as to what is happening in Iran.”