A Group of U.S. Lawmakers Introduced a Bill to Make Iran Sanctions Permanent

A group of lawmakers from both parties in the U.S. introduced a legislative proposal in the House of Representatives and the Senate on Monday that, if passed, would allow the U.S. President to permanently impose economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to The Hill, which reports on U.S. congressional news, Michelle Steel, a Republican lawmaker from California, is the main sponsor of the "Iran Sanctions Strengthening Act," and Michael McCaul, the Republican Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee from Texas, is another sponsor. Voice of America has contacted the offices of these lawmakers for further details about the legislation. The aim of this bill, if finally approved, is to extend the sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran permanently. The current sanctions law on Iran, enacted in 1996, is set to expire in 2026. Under the current circumstances, the U.S. Congress must continuously extend the existing sanctions law on Iran. This law allows the U.S. executive branch to impose sanctions on Iran's energy sector to disrupt the Islamic Republic's efforts to acquire nuclear weapons. McCaul stated, "The Iran sanctions law is one of America's most important legal tools for forcing Iran to abandon its dangerous and destabilizing behavior." He added that under the new sanctions law, sanctions against Iran would only be lifted if it stops its "threatening behavior." Currently, a group of 24 lawmakers from both parties, including Suzy Lee, a Democratic representative from Nevada, has supported this proposal. Michelle Steel also stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran has "clearly" indicated that it has "no interest in participating in the international community or striving for peace." She pointed out that the "rogue regime" of the Islamic Republic continues to threaten democracy and actively supports terrorism worldwide, asserting that this bipartisan legislative proposal in both chambers of Congress could prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and "further endangering world peace." The Islamic Republic claims it does not intend to build nuclear weapons. However, evidence suggests that Iran's nuclear program is far from a purely peaceful agenda. U.S. officials have repeatedly expressed concern over the progress of Iran's nuclear program in recent months, emphasizing that the revival of the JCPOA is no longer a priority on the U.S. agenda, stating that diplomacy is the only permanent, durable, and verifiable tool to address Iran's nuclear program.