"I recently voted against a bill to increase the sanctions already in place against Russia and Iran," Duncan said on Wednesday. "The increased sanctions against Russia were based on alleged meddling in our presidential election. However, if they did, it was totally ineffective, and Russia has aided us recently in the fight against ISIS and reaching a cease fire in Syria."
The congressman said he also thought it was unwise to expand sanctions on Iran after the US State Department twice verified that the Islamic Republic has complied with the terms of an international nuclear agreement.
"I just did not think we should slap them in the face when they are doing what we wanted them to do," Duncan said.
Likewise, the lawmaker said he thought sanctions on North Korea would do nothing to hurt the ruling elite in Pyongyang, while the measures would almost certainly hurt impoverished North Koreans.
"Overall, though I think we should stop trying to rule the whole world. We are $20 trillion in debt, and we have enough problems at home," Duncan said.
Duncan was one of just three lawmakers in the US House of Representatives who on Tuesday voted against a bill to sanction Russia, Iran and North Korea and limit President Donald Trump's ability to lift restrictions on Moscow.
Another 419 lawmakers voted in favor of the legislation, which will now be passed onto the Senate for a vote before being sent to Trump for final approval.
