Lawmaker says Iranian regime has 'terrorized the globe,' accuses it of backing Hamas, Houthis and Hezbollah

A lawmaker opening a congressional hearing said the Iranian regime has “terrorized the globe” for nearly half a century and accused it of providing military, political, diplomatic and monetary support to militant groups including Hamas, the Houthis and Hezbollah.

The speaker framed the hearing as a response to that threat, saying, according to the transcript, “The reason we are here is that for nearly half a century, the Iranian regime has terrorized the globe with acts of cowardly violence through its own forces and proxy militias.”

The lawmaker listed groups the regime allegedly backs and detailed the kinds of assistance it claimed Iran provides: "namely Hamas, the Houthis, the Hezbollah, whom they have provided military, political and diplomatic and monetary aid." The speaker said that those groups have used roadside bombs and other improvised explosive devices, asserting that "They have killed approximately 1,000 Americans and maimed thousands of others, both Americans and Arabs, with roadside bombs and other IEDs." The transcript also records the speaker noting widely circulated footage of attacks and adding, "With drones and missiles hurtling into malls, hospitals and hotels, this has to stop."

The remarks recorded in the transcript are part of the opening statements in the hearing; the transcript does not record any immediate response or challenge to these claims. The hearing record in these segments contains assertions and examples but does not provide documentary evidence or vote outcomes on policy actions within the excerpted segments.

The speaker's comments set the hearing's tone by emphasizing alleged Iranian-directed or -supported violence and civilian harm; the transcript does not include named witnesses, votes or formal actions in the provided segments.