Reuters: Many U.S. States Plan to Continue Their Sanctions Against Iran

Reuters reported that as Iran and the U.S. approach a nuclear agreement, many U.S. states are likely to maintain their separate sanctions against Tehran, complicating relations between the two countries. This report was published on Monday, April 24, and states that currently more than 20 U.S. states have punitive laws against companies that ignore sanctions against Iran. These punitive laws can prevent such companies from doing business with pension funds worth billions of dollars. More than half of these states will only end their sanctions against Iran if, according to them, Iran ceases its support for terrorism or if all federal sanctions against Iran are lifted. Even the states of Kansas and Mississippi have considered new sanctions against Iran. Meanwhile, Barack Obama, the U.S. President, had previously warned Congress about imposing new sanctions against Iran amid nuclear negotiations, but for instance, Florida State Senator Dan Getz emphasizes that the investment sanctions of this state have nothing to do with Obama's negotiations with Iran. Senator Getz told Reuters: 'They [the Iranian government] need to show a significant change in behavior. We do not necessarily follow the views of President Obama or any other president regarding Iran.' California, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Georgia, Arizona, Alaska, New York, Michigan, and Florida are among the states that, through punitive laws, prevent companies engaged in trade with Iran from dealing with their public sectors. Reuters writes that senators from more than 10 states contacted by the news agency emphasized that even if the U.S. government reaches an agreement with Iran, these states do not intend to change their policies regarding Iran, including Florida, Michigan, and Georgia. However, officials from some of these states, such as New York and Oregon, have stated that they will review their policies in the event of a nuclear agreement and changes in federal laws. Iran and the 1+5 group have set a deadline to reach a comprehensive nuclear agreement by July 9. In this context, Iranian officials have warned that reaching an agreement is contingent upon the lifting of all sanctions against Iran from the day the agreement is implemented.