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Sweeping Sanctions
25-Jun-2010
The House and Senate voted Thursday to impose sweeping new sanctions against Iran, sending the legislation to the President’s desk for approval. Proponents have called the legislation the “toughest Iran sanctions ever proposed,” while critics argue it will do nothing to halt the Iranian nuclear program and that Congress should have eased sanctions that punish innocent Iranians.
The bill’s supporters have made it clear that their primary intention is to punish Iran’s nuclear activities, though human rights concerns have been added as a secondary consideration.
The Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 was approved unanimously, 99-0, in the Senate and by a vote of 408-8 in the House, with one Present vote. The bill is a dramatic expansion of current US sanctions on Iran, focusing extensively on imposing sanctions on foreign companies that export refined petroleum to Iran or invest in Iran’s energy sector with the goal of destabilizing Iran’s economy.
The bill also expands the existing US trade embargo on Iranian goods and reverses a goodwill gesture by the Clinton Administration in 2000 that had allowed Iranian rugs, pistachios, caviar, and dried fruit to be brought into the US. These goods, which accounted for $62,500,000 in trade in 2009, according the IMF, are now once again banned in the U.S.
In codifying the embargo on Iran, the sanctions bill makes it substantially more difficult for the President to lift sanctions on Iran in the future.
The legislation also codifies the prohibition on exporting products to Iran, though it does provide for certain exceptions. The legislation includes a special exception for Internet communications technology, including hardware, software and other technology necessary to help Iranians access the Internet -- though it remained silent about anti-censorship and anti-surveillance tools. While NIAC strongly opposed the overall sanctions bill, NIAC actively worked to ensure that communications software and anti-censorship tools to be exported to the people of Iran.
“Crippling” Sanctions
A key component of the legislation is to impose severe sanctions on companies that export refined petroleum to Iran, since Iran is unable to refine enough of its oil to meet its demand for gasoline. The legislation effectively bars companies that provide Iran with refined petroleum from doing business in the United States -- though the President has the option of waiving these sanctions on a case-by-case basis. Many Members of Congress wanted to eliminate the President’s flexibility to waive certain sanctions, but ultimately the President’s flexibility was retained on a more limited basis.
The bill expands the scope of Iran sanctions to include insurance, financing, and shipping companies that contribute to the development of Iran’s energy sector. It also strengthens measures to prevent products from being sent from the US to Iran through a third country.
The bill also authorizes state and local governments to divest their assets from international companies that invest in Iran.
Punishing Human Rights Abusers
In addition to the economic sanctions aimed at Iran’s society as a whole, the final version of the legislation includes measures targeting Iran’s human rights abusers specifically, many of which were first called for and strongly supported by NIAC as part of the Stand With the Iranian People Act (H.R.4303).
The final bill included two provisions of the Stand With the Iranian People Act, imposing travel restrictions on Iranian human rights abusers and barring federal contracts for companies that provide Iran’s government with repressive technology.
The bill also recognized that “it is in the national interest of the United States” to allow American humanitarian and human right NGOs to work in Iran and to state that the US should ensure American NGOs are not “unnecessarily hindered from working in Iran to provide humanitarian, human rights, and people-to-people assistance” to the Iranian people. However, this language is nonbinding and the bill did not lift the ban that prevents humanitarian relief and human rights organizations from working in Iran.
In contrast to its refusal to lift the ban on American humanitarian NGOs operating in Iran, Congress did provide an export exception for organizations “promoting democracy in Iran.”
The Act also requires the President to develop a list of Iranian officials responsible for human rights abuses since last June’s presidential election, and impose targeted sanctions against those officials including freezing their assets. Those sanctions will remain in place until Iran unconditionally releases all political prisoners and ceases its practices of violence, unlawful detention, torture, and abuse of its citizens.
The new bill also responds to a number of concerns made last year that Western companies have provided Iran with advanced censorship and surveillance technology. A provision of the bill strongly supported by NIAC will bar federal contracts for companies that export this type of repressive technology to Iran, in the hopes that such companies will cease their sales of technology that is used to restrict Iranians’ freedom of speech.
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If
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Fri Jun 25, 2010 02:54 PM PDTIran were to stop selling oil to "USA" then it would sell to China. Nothing will change. It is called global market. If Iran were to stop selling oil altogether then its economy would fail. Then people would chase the Mullahs out of power. Not a bad idea!
@#$?
by maziar 58 on Fri Jun 25, 2010 02:41 PM PDTMehrdad If Iran stop sellig oil, Or the west stop buying it from them .....
The black market have to sell them at half the price since that's the only cash cow they have.
And double or triple the price for Iranian consumption inside to break even; that's the travesty. Maziar
Disintegration
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Fri Jun 25, 2010 02:40 PM PDTMaybe US does want disintegration of Iran I don't know. However if past behavior is an indicator not. USA has taken over Afghanistan; Japan; Iraq; Germany and so on. How many got disintegrated?
In fact it was the Soviet Union that broke Germany and Iran apart. What did USA do? It helped Iran keep Azarbaijan. It also helped Germany reunite post Soviet breakup. No exactly what you say.
Of course the West haters will gladly embrace Russia and Arabs. But god forbid USA. No we must hate USA and fight it to our last drop. Hail the old Marxist and Islamist ideas. See how they advanced us! Don't we want another 30 years of it? No thanks.
Resident geniuses
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Fri Jun 25, 2010 02:34 PM PDTI know USA does not give a damn about human rights. I don't need you to tell me. I also know US has its own interests. Duh!
Alex: you are talking down to me and I don't like it. I know plenty about Iranian tradition. So take your arrogance somewhere to easily impressed people not me. Many people are defending the IRI on IC. "Obama"; Mehrdad; Q; Abarmard; IRI; No Fear; "Dariush"; Sargord. Some are honest like No Fear and IRI many are dishonest and pretend to be unbiased while taking side of IRI every time.
Now you people want to give me politics 101. No thanks I know about multinationals and the rest. I also know that IRI is 1000 times worse than USA; Multinationals and all the rest put together.
Mehrdad: your utter contempt for the West is obvious. There are sides: many sides. You put on a pretense of being opposed to IRI. But your actions and posts betray your views. You have at every point taken the IRI line. Once in a while you found it convenient to make a pretend criticism. It is very transparent. Plus just like the rest of IRI supporters. When you run out of logic use name calling. Sure I am just like GW Bush version 2. Wonderful logic from "Bavafa".
Veiled Prophet of Khorasan & Other like minded Ignorant Iranians
by AlexInFlorida on Fri Jun 25, 2010 11:27 AM PDTThe USA doesn't give a damn about Human Rights or Democracy, when it conflicts with the interests of it's multinationals, for Iran, Iraq or Afghanistan.
The Multinationals run the US government more than the President, Senate, House or the People and it has been this way for more than 50 years. The USA's Entire National Politics is based around information that you can gather in any university, news paper or book store (mass Media) which is intentionally skewed and deceitful.
No One is defending IRI. Openly and Publicly today the USA supports the Green Movement, which is lead by Mousavi and Rafsanjani (A former Prime Minister and President of IRI respectively) who were both active in ordering the hangings of over 10,000 men in 1988 who had completed their prison terms and were asked to return as well as the whipping to death of thousands of women.
These Leaders of the Green Movement politically & personally benefitted by backing this mass murder, where as the formal successor to Khomeini Montazeri was replaced in favor of Khameneii (with the support of Mousavi and Rafsanjani) because he rejected the mass executions.
If you are having difficulty opening your ignornorant and blind eyes take a look at this interview by CNN spokesperson //video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-506628656... he educates the viewer incorrectly and manipulatively that this future century more people will be murdered through small conflict from syria, iran, iraq to afghanistan due to local issues than the millions of this past century.
So the disintigration of Iran is the real agenda.
Desire for Democracy (peoples green movement) is the tool.
The Key Difference between Irans Monarchy and Western Civilization is immense, since you and many other Iranians are right now in the process of growing your peanut ignorant brains, I will not bother you with any more education today. Just digest what you are learning for now.
Realize that at some point, it is important that you start to learn the significance of Irans Traditions, because the real enemies of Iranians know the dangers of what we have inherited and are using it to destroy Iran.
VPK:
by Bavafa on Fri Jun 25, 2010 11:25 AM PDTI am so glad we have you here as a voice of reason as oppose to my knee-jerk reactions and also to enlighten us every day.
Having said that, unfortunately I know Iran would not be in the situation to impose any kind of oil sanction… first for the reason that it does not sell oil specifically to any nation, it goes to an open market. Secondly, it needs the money more then their wish to retaliate against US.
"Why are you siding with them"?
Fortunately I don't subscribe to your thinking which seem to be in line with GWB thinking that "you are either with us or with them"
My utter contempt (to put it the mildest way I can in the public forum) for IRI has been clear since 1980, but that does not mean that I should automatically agree with any and every act by US against IRI and Iranians. In another word the enemy of my enemy is not necessarily/always my friend.
Mehrdad
Mehrdad
by Veiled Prophet of Khorasan on Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:03 AM PDTyour reaction is knee-jerk. Opec tried it and US and the West survived it. US will simply pump all the Iraqi oil it wants and be just fine. When are you going to use reason instead of hot headed emotions? IRI has no chance in an either economic or military fight with USA.
In addition their philosophy is bankrupt so the IRI loses on: freedom; philosophy; economics and military. Why are you siding with them? They are not Iran. The IRI is the remnant of the Arab occupation from 1400 years ago. Sooner they go the better for Iran and the whole human race.
VPK
It remains to be seen how ineffective this will be
by Bavafa on Fri Jun 25, 2010 09:50 AM PDTIt would be great if Iran imposes sanction on selling oil, see how crippling that would be to the US economy.
Mehrdad
very good news......
by shushtari on Fri Jun 25, 2010 08:37 AM PDTas long as it doesn't affect ordinary hamvatans.....
it's time to break the back of the akhoonds
While many disguised as academics, reporters, talking heads, etc
by Mehrban on Fri Jun 25, 2010 08:33 AM PDTwere in effect supporting the regime, abuse and humiliation of Iranians went on with impunity for over thirty years. This is the first time that the issue has been dealt with directly on an international scale. The list of the Islamist Rapists responsible for the killing and humilliation of Iranians must be published (some already have) and their travel restricted, and their assets seized. The boldness of these killers in unbridled abuse of Iranians must stop. This is one step towards that end.
PS. In my opinion, acquisition of nuclear weapons by IR would further their abuse of Iranians.
How?
by Fred on Fri Jun 25, 2010 08:44 AM PDTNIAC lobby in part says:
“The bill’s supporters have made it clear that their primary intention is to punish Iran’s nuclear activities, though human rights concerns have been added as a secondary consideration. “
How the lobby which throughout its existence has been consistently wrong about its solutions, like holding talks with Islamists without any preconditions, gets to say the strong human rights consideration is “secondary”?
Ps.it says a lot about where NIAC lobby’s real loyalties are when except its conjoined twin the CASMII lobby and handful of other likeminded entities , the U.S. Chamber of Commerce representing Businesses is strongly opposed to the sanctions.