White House: More Sanctions Against the Islamic Republic Will Be Imposed Under the National Security Supplemental Budget Law

The National Security Advisor of the White House stated in a press conference on Wednesday that under the new budget law and the new powers granted to the government by Congress, more pressure will be applied on the Islamic Republic. Jake Sullivan, hours after the recent Congressional bill known as the National Security Supplemental Budget was signed into law, responded to a question from a VOA Persian reporter regarding what goal the Biden administration aims to achieve by implementing the sanctions stipulated in this law against the Islamic Republic, saying: "With the new powers Congress has given us, we can impose the types of pressures we deem necessary and isolate the Islamic Republic." He continued that the regime in Iran acts in fundamentally irresponsible ways, destabilizing the region and effectively preventing peace in the Middle East. Sullivan added, "This time is completely different from the situation we were in a few weeks ago, as now G7 member countries believe that due to the brazen and unprecedented attack against Israel by firing over three hundred missiles and drones, more economic actions, sanctions, and pressure on Iran must be applied." Joe Biden, the President of the United States, stated just minutes after signing this supplemental budget that "today is a good day for America, Europe, and for true global peace" and that it is "productive." He noted that "this law includes vital support for Israel," referring to the fact that ten days ago the Islamic Republic of Iran "launched over 100 missiles and drones at Israel," calling this attack "unprecedented." He pointed out Iran's support for Hezbollah, Hamas, and other proxy groups, stating that these projectiles "did not cause serious harm." Biden emphasized, "My commitment to Israel is ironclad, and Israel's security is very sensitive. We always want to ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself against Iran and its terrorist proxies." According to the U.S. President, "With this assistance, the United States can help Israel by filling its air defense arsenals and ensuring that Iran cannot wreak havoc and carry out attacks similar to those it conducted ten days ago." The U.S. imposed sanctions on two companies and four individuals related to the Islamic Republic's destructive cyber operations yesterday. The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department announced that these companies and individuals, under the cyber-electronic command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, targeted dozens of companies and government entities in the U.S. through targeted phishing and malware attacks. Based on sections related to the Islamic Republic from the law that came into effect today, Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and related entities are sanctioned for "human rights violations" and "supporting terrorism." Sanctions will also be imposed on financial resources stemming from the Islamic Republic's oil transactions, including ports, ships, and refineries involved in the transactions of sanctioned Iranian oil products.