Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R., Minn.) questioned Treasury Secretary Jack Lew at a House Financial Services Committee hearing Thursday, asking whether the Treasury Department knowingly weakened sanctions on Iran while the secret negotiations were taking place.
"It seems to me that at the worst possible time of the negotiations, the United States intentionally chose to weaken our hand and our negotiating position with Iran at a crucial time: sending a signal of weakness, sending a signal of sanctions reductions," Bachmann said. "And at the same time, strengthening Iran’s hand in those negotiations."
Bachmann cited a Daily Beast report that showed the Treasury Department had only issued two designation notices – which identified six people and four companies – regarding sanctions violations since Rouhani’s election in June. This was a sharp downturn from the six weeks before Rouhani’s election, in which seven designations were issued that included more than 100 new people and companies.