Forget that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA) agreed between Iran and the so-called P5+1 consisting of the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain, and the European Union has by all accounts been one of the few real foreign policy successes in the eight years of an otherwise war-dominated the Obama Administration. Forget that the promise of normalizing trade relations with Iran would produce untold wealth – and jobs – for both the US and Iran. Forget that the Europeans are flocking in droves to resume lucrative trade with Iran, despite president-elect Trump’s inexplicable Iranophobia. Forget that as the “Germany of the Middle East,” Iran brings to the table “80 million people, an educated workforce, and a proud tradition of manufacturing”and a potential economic bonanza for its partners.

Nope. The US Senate is proof that habitually ingesting mainstream media “fake news” is extremely harmful for your mental health.

The Iran Sanctions Act, passed in 1996, would have, without Congressional action, expired at the end of the month. With the success of the Iran nuclear deal there is no reason at all that it should not have been allowed to do so. But the real isolationists are the interventionists in the US government, who cannot stand the idea that we can trade and be friendly with countries without endorsing every single thing about their political system.

But no. Today the US Senate voted 99-0 – unanimously – to continue the idiotic, counterproductive, economically-disastrous, and anachronistic sanctions regime against an Iranian government that has proven willing to do business with the United States.

Shame on you, Senators. Every one of you who voted to continue sanctions!

By the way, there was one hero. In the US House, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) – a Ron Paul Institute Board Member – did a “Ron Paul” and courageously stood against the tide to vote against extending the sanctions on Iran. Give Rep. Massie the praise he deserves – let him know you support him!

Daniel McAdams is director of the The Ron Paul Institute for Peace & Prosperity. Reprinted from The Ron Paul Institute for Peace & Prosperity.