New U.S. Sanctions Bill Against Iran Unveiled at AIPAC Meeting

Senior U.S. lawmakers emphasized the strict implementation of the nuclear agreement with Iran while announcing plans to pass a new law to increase sanctions against the Islamic Republic due to its "illegal" missile program. On Tuesday, April 8, the Associated Press reported that American lawmakers unveiled the bill related to these sanctions at the annual meeting of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). If passed, the bill would impose further sanctions on the international financial system of Iranian and foreign companies involved in Iran's missile program, as well as the banks supporting them. The bill would also include sanctions on individuals involved in Iran's missile program and all those who conduct business with them. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) would also be subject to what are termed "terrorist sanctions," and arms sanctions against this entity would be increased. According to the report, this bill has the support of Kevin McCarthy, the Republican majority leader in the House of Representatives, and Steny Hoyer, a Democratic representative. News reports indicate that AIPAC is seeking consensus between Republicans and Democrats on this issue, two parties that are sharply divided over domestic U.S. issues. At the AIPAC meeting on Monday, Paul Ryan, Speaker of the House, described America's commitment to Israel as "sacred" and called the nuclear agreement with Iran a "disaster" that gives Iran the opportunity to access nuclear weapons. According to the report, Paul Ryan stated that the U.S. must use all its "tools of power" to "contain" Iran and utilize the cooperation of all its allies, especially Israel, in this regard. Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, also criticized the nuclear agreement between Tehran, Washington, and the five global powers at the AIPAC meeting, stating that "we will keep a hawk's eye on Iran." She added that the days of "striking Israel are over." In the same meeting, Mike Pence, the U.S. Vice President, stated that Washington would not tolerate Iran's efforts to "destabilize the region and threaten Israel's security." He emphasized that the Trump administration would prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He also mentioned that the Trump administration would seriously consider the relocation of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In response to these statements, Bahram Qasemi, spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, described the recent remarks by the U.S. Vice President as "fabricated, repetitive, and hostile." The topic of U.S.-Israel relations at the AIPAC meeting saw Israeli leaders seeking affirming statements from Donald Trump in the early days of the meeting, but the U.S. government remains opposed to Israeli settlement expansion in Palestinian territories, and the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv is not as close to the Israeli government as Benjamin Netanyahu's administration expects. However, Netanyahu declared on Monday that U.S.-Israel relations are "stronger than ever." The Associated Press noted that it is still uncertain whether Donald Trump, the U.S. President, will fulfill all of Israel's demands. Trump had repeatedly promised during the U.S. presidential election campaign to move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, a city that Israel considers its true capital. The three-day AIPAC meeting concludes on Tuesday.