US Congress to advance legislation against Iran
House, Senate majority leaders frustrated with repeated delays in international negotiations regarding harsher sanctions to curb Tehran's nuclear program. Final legislation expected to take aim at Iran's reliance on imports of refined petroleum products. Expert: Congress' patience with Iran reaching an end
WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D – MD) are expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss the advancement of legislation calling for US sanctions against companies that conduct business with Iran.
American and Israeli officials estimate that sanctions imposed on Iran's oil industry would be the most devastating blow to the regime in Tehran. The Obama Administration is trying to promote similar measures in the UN, but Russia and China are opposed to "crippling sanctions," prompting American lawmakers to move forward with their own initiative rather than wait for the president's diplomatic efforts to yield the desired results.
Over the past year the Obama Administration has pressed Congress' Democratic leaders to put their initiative on hold until the UN's Security Council decides on the matter, but Reid and Hoyer have expressed their impatience with the repeated delays in international talks.
The Senate and House of Representatives have passed rival bills taking aim at Iran over its defiance of world demands it freeze its suspect nuclear drive, and must now forge and pass compromise legislation to send it to President Barack Obama.
Asked a few days ago how quickly the US Congress could wrap up that process and send Obama the legislation, Hoyer told reporters that House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman "would like to get this done in a matter of weeks."
The final product is expected to take aim at Iran's reliance on imports of refined petroleum products, including gasoline, because of a lack of domestic refining capability.
Mark Dubowitz, executive director of the US-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), which is following the sanctions and their influence on Iran, claims that "Congress' patience with Iran is reaching an end as Iran continues to reject reasonable deals aimed at preventing its development of nuclear weapons. The Administration wants to buy more time to gain international support for sanctions, which many in Congress fear will only yield another toothless UN resolution.
"Why even pass energy sanctions? Economics: Energy is the lifeblood of the men who rule Iran. Oil alone accounts for three-quarters of the Iranian government's revenues. The Islamic Republic also has an economic 'Achilles' heel' -- it imports up to 40 percent of its gasoline from a handful of foreign suppliers. Profits from the gasoline trade and the Iranian oil and natural gas sectors are the source of an enormous patronage system run by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In addition to its dominance over the Iranian economy, the Guard is increasingly the dominant political and security force; it is responsible for safeguarding the regime and using murder, torture, and rape to crush all dissent," he wrote.
Dubowitz added, "The Congressional sanctions moving through conference committee over the coming period have already had an impact. Numerous international energy firms are reducing their ties to Iran and some have cut or plan to cut their ties to Iran's energy sector completely. The political risk equation is changing for these companies as they fear the possibility of being cut off from doing business in the US if they continue their trade with Iran."
AFP contributed to the report
