Iran
House Republicans Propose ‘Toughest Sanctions’ on Iran
Congressional Republicans on Thursday unveiled a legislative package that includes the “toughest sanctions” to date on Iran.
The Republican Study Committee (RSC), the largest Republican caucus in Congress, released a policy wish list titled the “RSC National Security Strategy: Strengthening America and Countering Global Threats” that calls for “enhancing the President’s maximum pressure campaign on Iran.”
The United States withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in May 2018, reimposing sanctions lifted under it, along with enacting new penalties against the Islamic Republic.
Despite the withdrawal, some waivers have been left in place, including one that allows Iran to sell electricity to Iraq.
Under the GOP proposal, Congress would prohibit the lifting of sanctions on Iran without approval from the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Similar provisions were included as part of the 2017 Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which imposed sanctions on Iran and other U.S. adversaries, as it pertained to sanctions on Russia.
The RSC also calls for the Trump administration to enact U.N. snapback sanctions on Iran that includes permanently extending the U.N. arms embargo on the regime. The administration repeatedly has stated its intent to extend the embargo and even enact the snapback mechanism if the U.S. resolution to do so is, as expected, vetoed at the U.N. Security Council. Russia and China, both of which are party to the 2015 nuclear accord, have objected to the upcoming expected U.S. move.
Read More: JNS
