Democratic Congress readies tough Iran sanctions
Wednesday, August 5, 2009 E-Mail this story Free Headline Alerts
WASHINGTON — The Democratic-controlled Congress, briefed on progress in Teheran's nuclear weapons program, is moving toward harsher U.S. sanctions against Iran.
Officials said key House and Senate members were discussing legislation that would allow President Barack Obama to impose a new and harsher set of sanctions on the Teheran regime. They said the sanctions would include a ban on gasoline exports to Iran.
"Now it is our job to arm our president with a comprehensive set of tough sanctions designed to ratchet up pressure on the Iranian regime," Senate Banking Committee chairman Chris Dodd said. "I am working closely with the administration as it develops its Iran policy, and I plan to hold a hearing with State, Treasury, and Commerce officials this fall before marking up additional legislation."
Officials said the congressional effort was meant to support warnings by the administration that the United States was prepared to impose harsh sanctions on Iran unless the two sides agreed on a resolution to the nuclear crisis. They said any U.S. effort would have the support of the European Union and most Arab League states.
On Aug. 3, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discussed Iran with American diplomats throughout the world. Ms. Clinton raised the prospect of eventual sanctions on the Teheran regime.
"We're not prepared to talk about any specific steps," Ms. Clinton said. "But I have said repeatedly, in the absence of some positive response from the Iranian government, the international community will consult about next steps and certainly next steps can include certain sanctions."
In late July, the Senate approved a bill that would ban government contracts to companies that sell fuel to Iran. The House has passed legislation that would halt government credits to foreign oil companies that supply fuel to Iran or help its energy industry.
In 2008, the Senate Banking Committee approved by a vote of 19-2, a comprehensive bill on Iran sanctions. The bill was designed to block the flow of U.S. dual-use technology to Iran and enable local government and pension funds to divest from firms active in the Iranian energy sector.
"Regrettably, an irresponsible few blocked that bill from coming to the floor," Dodd said during a committee hearing on July 30. "Since that time, problems posed by a defiant Iranian government have only grown. This regime has continued to pursue its nuclear ambitions. This regime has continued to fund terrorist activities throughout the Middle East."
Officials and analysts have warned that the United States must garner international support for additional sanctions on Iran. They cited widespread Western European, Chinese and Russian violations of current restrictions on dual-use exports to Iran, including trucks, electronic products and technology.
"Striking on our own, I think, will not have the intended effect that we want," former Assistant of Secretary of State Nicholas Burns told the committee. "And we would not want a situation to develop where we create divisions between, say, Europe and the United States at a time when we ought to be united and focused on Iran itself."
Officials said Congress has been briefed on Iran's advance toward nuclear weapons capability. Key House and Senate members have been told that Iran has completed the nuclear fuel cycle as well as the design of a nuclear warhead.
The administration has given Iran until September to launch a dialogue to end Teheran's refusal to stop uranium enrichment. Officials said the White House was prepared to impose new sanctions by 2010.
For his part, Burns, who has advised the White House and State Department, said the administration must persuade China and Russia to support any new sanctions. Both Beijing and Moscow have been deemed leading suppliers to Iran's strategic programs.
"This is the test of our diplomacy in September and October of this year," Burns, now a professor at Harvard University, said.