A bill in the Senate would support efforts by the Iranian opposition to
overthrow the ayatollahs' regime.
The bill was drafted as Congress has been pressing the Bush
administration to support regime change in Iran. The administration, citing
the stability of the Islamic regime, has resisted the policy option.
Sen. Rick Santorum, a Pennsylvania Republican and a member of the GOP leadership in the Senate introduced the legislation, termed the Iran Freedom and Support Act. The bill would require that the United States work to ensure a referendum in
Iran on the type of regime sought by the people, Middle East Newsline reported.
Santorum has served as chairman of the Republican Conference and the third-ranking member
of the Senate Republican leadership.
In a statement, Santorum said Iran has been linked to strikes against
U.S. military personnel in Saudi Arabia in 1996 and Al Qaida attacks against
civilians in Saudi Arabia in 2004. The United States has never blamed Iran
for Al Qaida's campaign in Saudi Arabia.
"This will provide much needed assistance for pro-democracy groups who
are committed to advancing democratic ideals and principles despite living
at the hands of a government that views freedom as a threat to their power,"
Santorum said.
Congressional sources said that in 2004, under State Department
guidance, a bill that called for the regime change in Iran was opposed by
the administration. The new legislation does not call specifically for
regime change, but authorizes the president to finance "foreign and domestic
individuals, organizations, and entities that support democracy and the
promotion of democracy in Iran."
"Such assistance may include the award of grants to eligible independent
pro-democracy radio and television broadcasting organizations that broadcast
into Iran," Santorum said.
Under the legislation, the United States would "actively support a
national referendum in Iran with oversight by international observers and
monitors to certify the integrity and fairness of the referendum." The bill
would commit the United States to finance the democratic opposition in Iran
but not commit Washington to regime change.
President George Bush has signaled his support for the bill. In his
State of the Union address, Bush addressed the Iranian people, saying "As
you stand for your own liberty, America stands with you."