WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) praised Congress’ passage of the Iran Sanctions Extension Act, which will extend U.S. sanctions on the middle-eastern state for 10 years. According to a White House statement, President Obama will likely sign the legislation but “the Secretary of State [John Kerry] will retain the authority to continue to waive all of the relevant nuclear-related sanctions authorized by the legislation.”
The bill passed the in the Senate unanimously and in the House by a vote of 419-1.
“The Iran Sanctions Extension Act underscores America’s commitment to holding the world’s leading state sponsor of terror accountable,” Sen. Shelby said in a statement. “Maintaining our sanctions policy is critical to keeping Americans and our allies safe, and I’m pleased that we are sending a strong message to Iran that there are consequences for its dangerous behavior.”
Last year, President Obama entered into an executive agreement modifying sanction’s on Iran that many conservatives in Congress decried. According to a report from the Heritage Foundation, “The nuclear deal dismantles sanctions against Iran, but not Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. None of the illicit facilities that Iran built covertly is required to be dismantled. Tehran is allowed to continue use of two uranium enrichment facilities, and a heavy-water reactor, with modifications that will merely reduce its yield of plutonium.”
Throughout the campaign, president-elect Trump noted that he would “tear up” Obama’s Iran deal and renegotiate. Sen. Shelby is looking forward to that process. “While this bill is an important and necessary step, I look forward to a comprehensive review of our Iran policies in the new Congress,” he said. “President Obama’s nuclear deal has placed the United States in a position of weakness and we must make certain that the rogue nation is never given the upper-hand.”
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