Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said the docking of two Iranian warships in a Rio de Janeiro port on Sunday was "dangerous" to the "safety and security of Americans," calling on Congress to act.

The two warships, the IRIS Makran and IRIS Dena were allowed to enter the port by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, despite the U.S.'s wishes to bar them.

In late January, Reuters reported the Brazilian government refused Iran's request to dock in the port.

However, this time, the deputy chief of Brazil's naval staff, Vice Adm. Carlos Eduardo Horta Arentz, approved the docking between Feb. 26 and March 4, according to Reuters.

"The United States has sanctions and antiterrorism laws designed exactly to deter and respond to these threats," said Cruz in a press release. "These Iranian warships are already sanctioned, and so the port in Rio de Janeiro where they docked is now at risk of crippling sanctions, as are any Brazilian companies that provided them services or accepted payments."

"President Biden calls Brazilian President da Silva his friend and said he was honored to host him at the White House, and da Silva himself is a Chavista aligned against the United States and our interests, so either these risks were not conveyed or the Brazilians did not care," added Cruz.

"Nevertheless, our antiterrorism laws are designed to protect Americans and are not optional. The Biden administration is obligated to impose relevant sanctions, reevaluate Brazil's cooperation with U.S. antiterrorism efforts, and reexamine whether Brazil is maintaining effective antiterrorism measures at its ports.

"If the administration does not, Congress should force them to do so."

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