House GOP Pushes Host of Iran Sanctions Bills
The House Republican Study Committee unveiled a package of sanctions bills April 1 aimed at backing the Trump administration’s efforts to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons and supporting terrorism.
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Among the measures are the No Iranian Energy Act, which would sanction Iraq’s purchase of Iranian natural gas, and the Iran Waiver Recissions Act, which would permanently freeze Iranian-sanctioned assets. Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, who chairs the committee, introduced both bills.
The Maximum Pressure Act, reintroduced by Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, would sanction Iran’s supreme leader, restrict the president’s ability to lift Iran sanctions, and expand sanctions on Iran’s ballistic missile program and sales to also include Iranian drones. It also would require the Treasury Department to sanction all new Iranian banks that are not already designated.
The Iranian Terror Prevention Act, reintroduced by Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., would require the State Department to designate 29 Iran-backed militias and terrorist groups as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs). The No Sanctions Relief for Terrorists Act, reintroduced by Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., would prevent future administrations from giving Iran sanctions relief until Tehran stops supporting terrorism.
Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., is offering the Free Iraq from Iran Act, which would designate key Iran-backed groups in Iraq as FTOs and sanction Iranian agents in Iraq, and the Maximum Support Act, which would direct the confiscation of Iranian government assets and designate the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security as an FTO.
A resolution proposed by Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., would push the U.K., France and Germany to reimpose sanctions on Iran for violating its nuclear weapons-related obligations.
A memorandum President Donald Trump signed in February ordered U.S. agencies to pursue a "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran to include new sanctions and increased enforcement of such tools (see 2502050020).