Proposal to Extend 'Iran Sanctions Act' for 10 Years in the U.S. House of Representatives

Reuters has reported that Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives are set to vote on a law extending sanctions against Iran for another 10 years at the end of November. This news was conveyed by aides to U.S. congressional representatives on Tuesday, November 4. The 'Iran Sanctions Act' or 'ISA', which is set to expire on December 31, imposes sanctions in the areas of trade, energy, defense, and banking industries related to Iran's nuclear program and its ballistic missile tests. According to Reuters, one of the unfinished tasks for U.S. Congress members after returning to Washington on October 9, a day after the presidential election on November 8, will be voting on this law. Congressional aides have stated that the extension of this law will occur without changes and is likely to pass the House of Representatives, but its fate in the U.S. Senate remains unclear. Republicans currently hold the majority in both the House and Senate and are all opposed to the nuclear agreement with Iran (JCPOA). Some Republican senators are not only seeking to extend the 'Iran Sanctions Act' but are also trying to gain support from other senators to intensify sanctions against Iran due to its ballistic missile program and 'support for terrorism'. The report adds that some Republicans in Congress are also looking to pass a measure to remove the President's authority to grant waivers from sanctions for security reasons. Republicans need to gain support from some Democrats to advance any plan in this area. They currently hold 54 out of 100 Senate seats and need 60 votes for success. The Obama administration has requested Congress to delay the extension of this law, stating that the President has the necessary tools to intensify sanctions against Iran in case of a violation of the nuclear agreement. A senior Obama administration official also stated on Tuesday regarding the possibility of a veto by Barack Obama: the White House is still focused on ensuring Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement. This official reiterated that the White House's position regarding the expiration of the 'Iran Sanctions Act' is that the expiration of this law does not affect the government's ability to impose new sanctions if necessary. However, he emphasized: we remain committed to working with Congress, but we would like to discuss and negotiate with lawmakers on advancing foreign policy priorities in a way that does not jeopardize the JCPOA. On the other hand, an aide to the House Foreign Affairs Committee told Reuters that reviewing the 'Iran Sanctions Act' before its expiration is one of the 'main priorities' of Ed Royce, the Republican chairman of this committee.