December 13, 2011
Lawmakers from both parties call for the US to get tougher on the Islamic Republic
AIPAC welcomes the House-Senate Conference Committee’s completion of tough new sanctions against the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) and urges its immediate passage and full implementation. This important, long-overdue measure will raise the pressure on Tehran to abandon its illegal pursuit of nuclear weapons.
AIPAC applauds the authors of the amendment, Sens. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), and thanks the following lawmakers for their leadership in ensuring its inclusion in the National Defense Authorization Act conference report: Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) and Ranking Member Sen. John McCain (R-AZ); House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA) and Ranking Member Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA).
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Ranking Member Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA) not only played a role in the conference, but were originators of legislation targeting Iran’s Central Bank. A Berman amendment offered in October was included in legislation that the House is voting on today.
The CBI is the key financial facilitator of Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, and provides significant assistance to previously sanctioned banks and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). If properly enforced, the new provision will require foreign financial institutions to choose between doing business with Iran’s Central Bank and continuing to have access to the U.S. financial system.
It is essential that the administration embrace the Menendez-Kirk amendment in an effort to stop Tehran’s nuclear program and its global support for terrorism.
AIPAC urges Congress to take additional strong steps through passage of comprehensive Iran sanctions legislation before both the House and Senate.
Contact: Ari Goldberg