US Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) speaking at a press conference about the United States restricting weapons for Israel, at the US Capitol, Washington, DC. Photo: Michael Brochstein/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect

Eight US senators led by Republicans Rick Scott (FL) and Ted Cruz (TX) on Thursday introduced legislation that would bar Iranian officials from entering the United States as representatives to the UN, aligning with the Trump administration’s push to isolate Tehran and ramp up pressure on its leadership.

The bill, known as the Strengthening Entry Visa Enforcement and Restrictions (SEVER) Act, would prohibit members of Iran’s government, particularly those sanctioned for supporting the regime, from receiving US visas. The measure would also block Iranian envoys from traveling to the UN headquarters in New York, a step that could test longstanding US obligations under international agreements with the international body

The Trump administration has taken an increasingly hard line against Iran, tightening sanctions and restricting Tehran’s access to international forums. Administration officials have signaled support for efforts like the SEVER Act, framing them as part of a broader strategy to deny legitimacy to what they call a terrorist regime.

Scott, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, argued the US should not provide a platform for Iranian leaders.

“As President Trump and his administration have taken decisive action to secure our border and protect the American people, the SEVER Act is another critical step in closing dangerous loopholes in our visa and border security system. The United States must never become a safe haven for terrorists or those enabling the Iranian regime’s violent and destabilizing agenda,” Scott said in a statement.

Cruz echoed that sentiment, adding that “the Iranian regime and the corrupt officials who run it are responsible for the murder, injury, and kidnapping of thousands of Americans. The ayatollah [Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei] means it when he chants ‘Death to America,’ and the United States has developed and imposed sanctions to counter the threats posed by him and those directly around him.”

The legislation has drawn backing from several Republican senators, including Tom Cotton (-AR), Joni Ernst (IA), John Barrasso (WY), Lindsey Graham (SC), and Bill Hagerty (TN). Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody also voiced support, while Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) is set to introduce companion legislation in the House.

The move comes as Washington continues to escalate sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, human rights abuses, and support for terrorist groups across the Middle East. Critics warn that barring Iranian diplomats from UN meetings could spark international disputes and complicate US standing as host nation of the UN headquarters.

Still, the SEVER Act underscores the administration’s aggressive posture toward Tehran, a hallmark of US President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, and reflects a Republican-led effort in Congress to align legislation with the White House’s strategy of imposing “maximum pressure.”