June 23, 2010 | Press Release

Congress Sends Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Bill to President Obama

FDD Logo
Press Release
June 24, 2010
CONTACT:
Judy Mayka

202-621-3948
[email protected]

 
Congress Sends Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Bill to President Obama

Bill targets regime through sanctions on oil and natural gas sectors, refined petroleum sales, financial transactions, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, and human rights abusers

To view a video-enhanced & resource-rich version of this press release, click here.


Washington, D.C. (June 24, 2010) – The Foundation for Defense of Democracies applauds Congress for passing new sanctions legislation today targeting the Iranian regime. This historic bill, passed in the Senate by an overwhelming vote to 99-0, includes stringent measures to pressure Iran to abandon its illegal nuclear weapons program, its support for international terrorism, and its ongoing human rights abuses. Passage in the House is expected shortly.

“This legislation is an extraordinary achievement for the American people,” said FDD Executive Director Mark Dubowitz, head of FDD's Iran Energy Project. “Members of Congress deserve praise for their overwhelmingly bipartisan work to address the grave threat of the Iranian regime. If enforced appropriately, these sanctions could eventually force Tehran to understand that a nuclear weapon is not a guarantor of the regime’s stability, but a catalyst of its demise.”

“The bill contains comprehensive sanctions that target most of Iran’s energy supply chain, including for the first time the critical technologies, goods and services the country requires to develop its oil and natural gas resources,” Dubowitz said. “And the conferees have also addressed Iran’s energy-related joint ventures, partnerships and investments overseas, through which it it gains access to foreign expertise and leverage over foreign resources.”

“With the passage of this legislation, the U.S. begins an even more important phase in its effort to compel the tyrannical regime in Tehran to abide by its international obligations. Congress and the administration must work together to implement this legislation and enforce its many provisions. The White House must also work closely with our allies in Europe, Canada, and elsewhere, who are preparing their own sanctions on the Iranian regime.”

Dubowitz praised House and Senate conferees for working together to strengthen the legislation and close loopholes identified during the reconciliation process. He also praised the Obama administration for cooperating closely with Congress, providing important input for final legislation.

The House conferees included Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA) Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA.), Rep. David Scott (D-GA), Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Rep. Ron Klein (D-FL), Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN), Rep. Edward Royce (R-CA), Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Rep. Sander M. Levin (D-MI), Rep. John Tanner (D-TN), and Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI).

The Senate conferees included Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL), Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT), and Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN).

Through its Iran Energy Project, FDD provides leading research and analysis in support of strong, broad-based energy sanctions, including gasoline, natural gas, and oil sanctions, and focuses on the prominent role of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran's energy industry. For more information, please visit IranEnergyProject.org.

For more information on FDD’s Iran Energy Project, please contact Judy Mayka at [email protected]

###
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies is a non-profit, non-partisan policy institute dedicated exclusively to promoting pluralism, defending democratic values, and fighting the ideologies that drive terrorism. Founded shortly after the attacks of 9/11, FDD combines policy research, democracy and counterterrorism education, strategic communications, and investigative journalism in support of its mission. For more information, please visit www.defenddemocracy.org.