Two Senior American Senators: The White House is Delaying the Implementation of Sanctions Against Iran and Russia

Two senior American senators have accused the White House of delaying the enforcement of new sanctions against Russia, Iran, and North Korea. John McCain and Ben Cardin, who drafted this legislation, stated in a statement on Wednesday, October 11, that the White House's approach regarding the Trump administration's commitment to enforcing these sanctions raises questions. The statement reads: "In addition to the government's disregard for the deadline to designate Russian entities for sanctions, there is no diplomatic movement to encourage America's European allies to increase pressure on Russia." Republican Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, had previously requested the President to implement the law, which they claim sends a strong message to allies and adversaries alike. The two senators said they have yet to receive a response to this letter. Political analyst Nikolai Zlobin believes that Trump's reluctance to impose new sanctions on Russia increases pressure on Iran and North Korea: "Congress has effectively tied the President's hands in determining a new strategy towards Russia. Investigations into Trump's possible collusion with the Kremlin hinder any initiative from the White House to improve relations with Moscow. The only tool available to the Trump administration to change this situation is to play with public opinion. Escalating tensions around Iran and North Korea is a step in this direction. If Trump can divert public attention from Russia to Iran and North Korea, we might witness positive developments in Moscow-Washington relations, which are currently heavily influenced by anti-Russian sentiments." The law known as the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, targeting Russia, Iran, and North Korea, was overwhelmingly approved by Congress and signed by the President, although Donald Trump described the legislation as seriously flawed. Under this law, the government was required to prepare regulations for identifying individuals and entities to be sanctioned by October 1. Two weeks ago, Donald Trump delegated the responsibility for enforcing sanctions against Russia, Iran, and North Korea to his Secretary of State, but no information has yet been provided regarding the content of the new anti-Russian sanctions. Political analyst Yakov Shirokov states that sanctions against Russia are detrimental to the country but beneficial to Putin's regime: "Russia's position in the international arena has become severely unstable. Russia is isolated alongside Iran and North Korea. Although leaders from various countries, especially from the Middle East, visit Putin, it is out of necessity. As international pressure increases, the Russian government portrays itself as a fortress besieged by enemies, and this situation has allowed for a significant increase in the repression of dissenters." Four years ago, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Russia through legislation named after anti-corruption lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, creating a blacklist of individuals suspected of human rights violations in Russia. The following year, after the annexation of Crimea, a group of figures and entities close to the Kremlin were added to the blacklist, and after Russia's intervention in Eastern Ukraine and especially the downing of the Malaysian passenger plane MH17, parts of the Russian economy also became targets of sanctions from the U.S. and the European Union. The recent sanctions law in the U.S. punishes Russia for its interference in the presidential elections, as well as its support for Bashar al-Assad and continued intervention in Ukraine. Additionally, in recent days, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a bill that includes sanctions against Russia for its support of Hezbollah. Russia collaborates with Iranian-backed forces, including Hezbollah, in Syria and has repeatedly stated that it does not consider this organization to be terrorist. Moscow has also consistently rejected any accusations, calling the sanctions a legacy of the previous U.S. administration and expressing hope that relations with Washington will improve during Donald Trump's presidency.