U.S. Senate Delays Review of New Iran Sanctions Proposal

The review of a new sanctions proposal related to Iran's missile program and several other non-nuclear issues has been postponed in the U.S. Senate. Senator Bob Corker cited the 'reaction of the European Union' and the upcoming presidential elections in Iran as reasons for the delay. Several American lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties had announced earlier this year their intention to increase sanctions, including against Iran's missile program. The Associated Press reported on March 27 that some U.S. lawmakers were seeking to pass a new proposal to increase sanctions, partly due to Tehran's 'illegal' missile program. During the 'AIPAC' annual meeting, House Speaker Paul Ryan stated that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard should be listed as a 'terrorist organization.' Nonetheless, Reuters reported on April 4 that Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, announced on Tuesday the suspension of the sanctions proposal review. Corker mentioned during a meeting regarding 'the European Union as a partner for the U.S. in dealing with Russia' that the proposal is currently not under consideration due to 'our concerns about the EU's reaction and also the upcoming [Iranian presidential] elections.' Corker is one of the drafters of the new sanctions proposal; several other lawmakers from both major U.S. parties have also played a role in its preparation. The new sanctions proposal, introduced in the Senate as the 'Countering Iran's Destabilizing Activities Act of 2017,' is reportedly designed not to undermine the Iran nuclear agreement with six world powers. The lawmakers who drafted the proposal claim it is written in a way that does not contradict the Iran nuclear deal. However, Iranian officials have reacted to some other U.S. sanctions after the nuclear agreement. For instance, last February, Iran's Foreign Ministry described the addition of several legal and real individuals to the sanctions list as 'inconsistent with U.S. commitments and contrary to the spirit and text of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (related to the nuclear agreement).' Reports indicate that the new sanctions proposal in the U.S. Congress specifically targets the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and could subject this entity to 'terrorist sanctions.' Other main issues include Iran's missile activities, which have continued after the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers. While the United States has repeatedly criticized these activities or deemed them contrary to the Security Council resolution, Iran has described these activities as 'defensive' and emphasized that it does not intend to abandon them. The new proposal could subject the financial activities of Iranian and foreign companies involved in Iran's missile program, as well as the banks supporting them, to increased sanctions. The nuclear agreement, the economic conditions following it, and the sanctions against Tehran are among the issues that have been raised in Iran over the past months and are expected to be discussed during the presidential elections in May. In this context, Rouhani described the perception of a gap between the leader and the government as 'naive.'