Pat Toomey warns not to lift Iran sanctions after 'Capitol blow-up' video, Internet says 'remember Jan 6, Pat?'

Iran reportedly aired fake footage of the US Capitol building being blown up by an Iranian missile on state-run television. The propaganda video, which was released by Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards on Sunday, May 2, reportedly also features soldiers ‘liberating’ Jerusalem.

The video was televised right before the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei spoke to the nation by the Islamic Republic’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). This video comes at a crucial time because the clip aired at a time when speculations were rife about the US and Iran nearing the resumption of a nuclear deal.

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The video has been shared by the media and it shows IRGC troops marching in formation at first. After that, a missile is being launched from an unknown location and that hits the Capitol building. After the building explodes, Iranian clerics are seen walking toward Jerusalem, the holy city. Kasra Aarabi, an analyst at the Tony Blair Institute, was quoted by the Daily Mail, explaining the symbolic use of a national song. 

He explained that the song was indeed nationalistic, but the lyrics called the Capitol building a "palace of oppression". He added that the building was "destroyed by the Alavi (Imam Ali’s) IRGC, and the good news of the liberation of Quds (Jerusalem) arrives from Iran."

In reaction to this, many including Senator Pat Toomey said Joe Biden should not lift the sanctions that were placed by the previous administration. "Last week, Iran’s chief diplomat allegedly admitted the IRGC calls the shots in Tehran. Now, Iran releases a fake video of the IRGC blowing up our Capitol. The Biden admin’s priority should be ensuring Iran cannot carry out such an attack, not capitulating by removing sanctions."

Senator Tom Cotton tweeted on Tuesday: "Freeing American hostages in Iran should continue to be a top priority for the U.S. government, but the administration must not pay ransom in any form. That would only beget further hostage-taking by the terrorist Iranian regime."

The reaction to the senator's tweet has however indicated that many believe this is not of utmost priority at the moment, or that the real villains when it comes to the Capitol building is the one who incited the riots that took place in January. One user wrote, "Who was it that attacked the Capitol in january again?" Another observed, "Funny how the Replublicans now try to prioritize issues with other countries, but couldn't/wouldn't stand up to 45, when he praised other world leader who we have proof, hack into our systems."

Another person tweeted and said, "Senator Toomey and other conservatives have been casting bigotry on Asians for over 100 years. Churchill promised them freedom in WW1 AND WW2 and reneged on the promise. Western nations endorsed the Shah. Why wouldn't they be suspicious of our honesty?" And another tweeted, "Let’s assure that right wing mobs don’t get near the Capitol. Remember January 6, Pat?"