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For months, the Houthis have launched unprecedented attacks against international maritime vessels positioned to defend commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The Red Sea is one of the world’s busiest supply chain routes, and these attacks jeopardize global maritime trade. President Biden has idly and recklessly watched the Houthis endanger U.S. service members and commercial shipping while failing to address the pugilistic actions of the self-proclaimed “Brothers of Hamas.”

Now, in response to recent attacks, Mr. Biden is expecting accolades for naming the Houthis a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group instead of an FTO. This weak designation does not apply the same restrictions and sanctions that an FTO designation does, which not only signals acceptance of Houthi terrorism but is a flashing beacon of our weakness — with serious national security implications.

The Houthis are an Iranian-sponsored Islamist terror militia that established a puppet government in Yemen. They are conducting Iran’s proxy war against Saudi Arabia and civil societies regionally, as well as against U.S. and international commercial ships. Both Iran and the Houthis are avowed enemies of America. Make no mistake: The Houthis are nothing more than an Iranian terrorist proxy following Iran’s orders.

Through its proxies, Iran has targeted and killed Americans while directly countervailing U.S. interests in the Middle East for decades in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Pakistan. Democratic administrations have continued to eagerly fund and assist the illegitimate Iranian theocracy that turned Iran into a terrorist citadel with the singular ambition of destroying America and Israel.

Starting with President Barack Obama, the “elites” in Washington have been co-opted by the Iranian influence lobby. They have facilitated the hegemonic goals of the terrorist superstate financially, militarily, diplomatically, geographically and, soon, by allowing Iran to wield ballistic nuclear capabilities. Following in Mr. Obama’s footsteps, Mr. Biden has reverted to and supercharged the same policies of deference toward Iran by repeatedly supporting its interests at the expense of America’s — all while employing Iranian assets.

Mr. Biden, heavily influenced by the Iranian lobby and international interests poised to make billions in profit, is desperate to get a nuclear deal with Iran — even though it means nuclear armament of a murderous, radical Islamist authoritarian regime.

Mr. Biden also allowed American representatives with questionable national security credentials and foreign allegiances to conduct secret negotiations with Iran. Just eight days after taking office, Mr. Biden appointed Robert Malley as U.S. special envoy to Iran. Mr. Malley was groomed by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and repeatedly downplayed Hamas’ terrorist activities. He was tasked with reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action — the same 2015 Iran nuclear deal that ensured international acceptance of Iran’s ballistic nuclear weapons program.

Mr. Malley’s security clearance was allegedly revoked in April, and he’s been under investigation by the FBI and State Department diplomatic security offices for mishandling classified information. In light of Mr. Malley’s long-term relationships with key administration appointees, it would not be surprising to find out that Mr. Malley is still involved in secret negotiations.

Further, Mr. Malley hired Ariane Tabatabai, whose allegiances to Iran are even stronger than his own. According to emails obtained by Semafor, Ms. Tabatabai was a participant in the Iran Experts Initiative, an Iranian project intended to influence international views on Iran positively, particularly its nuclear program. Ms. Tabatabai later became a top aide to Mr. Malley and a member of his Iran nuclear negotiating team.

Writing in Farsi, Ms. Tabatabai regularly checked in with Iran’s Foreign Ministry before attending policy events. She consistently sought advice from Mostafa Zahrani, one of the Iranian officials behind the initiative and the head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s in-house think tank, the Institute for Political and International Studies in Tehran. Mr. Zahrani is also a member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, another U.S.-designated FTO — the same IRGC once commanded by terrorist Qasem Soleimani. Despite these alarming ties, she serves as chief of staff to the assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict.

Mr. Biden’s “legitimize Iran” stance has resulted not only in damage to U.S. naval ships and maritime commerce but, more importantly, the deaths of U.S. service members. Even when reclassifying the Houthis as an SDGT group, Mr. Biden decided to delay its effect for another several weeks until “robust humanitarian carve-outs are in place.” In reality, this simply signals to the Houthis that they can continue to commit terrorist acts with impunity.

It’s time to face reality: As a pro-Iran president, Mr. Biden is providing aid and comfort to our enemy.

• Scott Perry and Claudia Tenney are House Republicans. Mr. Perry is from Pennsylvania and Ms. Tenney is from New York.