Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Congress has determined that international
sanctions failed to stop Iran from its drive toward nuclear weapons.

The Congressional Research Service, the research arm of the House and
Senate, asserted that U.S. and United Nations sanctions have not hampered
Teheran from advancing in its nuclear program.

CRS said the sanctions, intensified over the last two years, also failed to block imports of strategic weapons and components for Iran’s military.

“Sanctions do not appear to have reduced Iran’s influence or strategic
capabilities in the Middle East,” CRS said.

Titled “Iran Sanctions,” the report disputed statements by the
administration of President Barack Obama over the last year. The
administration has maintained that sanctions were making it more difficult for Iran to continue with uranium enrichment and other unsanctioned nuclear activities.

Author Kenneth Katzman said Teheran has not been harmed by sanctions to the point where it required a compromise to end the nuclear crisis. Katzman said the mullah regime has learned to bypass sanctions.

“Although sanctions have not compelled Iran to change its position on
its nuclear program, sanctions may be slowing Iran’s nuclear and missile
programs by hampering Iran’s ability to obtain needed technology from foreign sources,” the report, dated April 24, said. “However, Department of Defense and other assessments indicate that
sanctions have not stopped Iran from developing some new weaponry
indigenously.”

The report was issued amid discussions within Congress for additional
sanctions on Iran. House and Senate leaders have been mulling
proposals that would target Iran’s foreign exchange system.

“There is a consensus that U.S. and UN sanctions have not, to date,
accomplished their core strategic objective of compelling Iran to verifiably
limit its nuclear development to purely peaceful purposes,” the report said.

  Congressional Research Service, Report: Sanctions have not stopped Iran’s advance to nuclear weapons, strategic weapons imports, U.S. Defense Department, uranium enrichment