Menendez, Corker to Lead Bipartisan Legislation to Hold Iran Accountable

Press Release

U.S. Senators Bob Menendez, Bob Corker, Joe Manchin, and Marco Rubio tomorrow will introduce the Countering Iranian Threats Act of 2016. The bipartisan bill extends the Iran Sanctions Act; expands sanctions for ballistic missile development, support for terrorism, and other illicit Iranian actions; and sanctions transfers of conventional weapons to or from Iran.

"Over the course of the last year, we have engaged the Administration repeatedly about the need to address Iranian threats to our national interests and the interests of our friends and allies in the region and around the world. Iran's threats extend well beyond nuclear weapons ambitions," said Sen. Menendez, senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and author of the Iran Sanctions Relief Oversight Act of 2015. "Iran is a supporter of international terrorism, continues to develop its ballistic missile capabilities, actively seeks to destabilize friendly governments, has conducted cyberattacks against the United States and our allies, continues human rights abuses, and does so with impunity. The United States must reserve the right to hold Iran accountable for its actions and that is exactly what this legislation will do, imposing stricter sanctions tied to the specific actions outside of the nuclear portfolio. We must speak to Iran in the language they understand: There will be consequences."

"As many anticipated, Iran continues to test the will of the United States and the international community, and it is very evident that we must push back against their regionally destabilizing activities," said Sen. Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who led the opposition in Congress to the administration's nuclear deal with Iran. "As part of a regional strategy, this bipartisan bill mandates tough sanctions for ballistic missile activity, terrorism, and other illicit behavior. It also reasserts the proper role of Congress, explicitly prohibiting a president from using sanctions relief in the future to implement an international agreement with Iran without Congressional approval. In the absence of resolve from the White House, and with strong support from members of both parties, I am hopeful Congress will act in the coming months to pass this robust legislation to counter Iranian aggression."

"We need to send a strong message to Iran that Congress is monitoring their activity and this commonsense, bipartisan legislation does just that," said Sen. Manchin. "This bill maintains sanctions pressure on the Iranian regime through 2026 to improve its record on human rights and curtail Iran's acquisition of ballistic missiles, which Iran continues to pursue. These sanctions will also target the Revolutionary Guard Corps, an organization that supports terrorism throughout the Middle East. Iran is the world's largest sponsor of terror, and we must do everything in our power to ensure that this regime is not able to continue its deplorable terrorist actions."

"We need to look no further than Iran's dangerous and destabilizing activities to see the disaster that the Iran nuclear agreement has been over the last year. I am pleased to support this bipartisan bill to address Iran's ballistic missile activities, support for terrorism, violations of human rights, and cyber activities," said Sen. Rubio. "I call on all of Congress and the Obama Administration to support this bill and make clear to Iran that its nefarious activities that threaten the United States and our allies will not be allowed to continue without repercussions."

The Countering Iranian Threats Act (CITA) of 2016 contains the following key provisions:

Extension of the Iran Sanctions Act: Extends the Iran Sanctions Act to December 31, 2026.

New Mandatory Ballistic Missile, Terrorism and Cyber Sanctions: Imposes mandatory sanctions on entities involved with Iran's ballistic missile program and those that transact with them; against members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and foreign persons that are officials, agents, or affiliates of the IRGC; and for any significant activities undermining cybersecurity by Iran.

Enforcement of Arms Embargo: Requires the president to block the property of any person or entity involved in specific activities related to the supply, sale, or transfer of prohibited arms and related material to or from Iran.

Restrictions on Financial Transactions: Codifies the prohibition on "U-turn" transactions involving Iran. Also prohibits the use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to issue licenses to conduct offshore dollar-clearing with an Iranian financial institution.

Prohibition on International Agreements: Explicitly prohibits any president from using relief from sanctions imposed by this legislation to enter into any international agreement with Iran.

Regional Strategy: Directs the U.S. Departments of State, Defense, Treasury, and the Director of National Intelligence, to submit to Congress every two years a joint, 10-year strategy to counter Iranian activities in the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond.

Sen. Menendez authored the original Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 when he was a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Additional information on Sen. Menendez's history on Iran over the past year since the JCPOA was negotiated:

Menendez and Democratic Colleagues Call on Treasury Department to Hold Iran Accountable for Terrorist Funding (06/30/2016)

Menendez Applauds SCOTUS Decision to Uphold Ruling on $1.9 Billion Award for Victims in Iran Terror Cases (04/20/2016)

Menendez Says Preliminary GAO Report Finds Vulnerabilities in Oversight of Iran Nuclear Commitments Under JCPOA (02/23/2016)

Menendez on IAEA Announcement Allowing Iranian Sanctions Relief (01/16/2016)

Menendez Presses Admin About Iran's Violations of Ballistic Missile Ban at Hearing (12/17/2015)

Menendez on IAEA Board Vote to Close Investigation into Iran Nuclear Weapons Activities (12/15/2015)

Menendez Calls on Obama Administration to Tighten Iran Sanctions Following Ballistic Missile Launch (10/19/2015)

Menendez on Disapproval Resolution of Iran Nuclear Agreement (09/10/2015)

Menendez Delivers Remarks on Iran Nuclear Deal at Seton Hall University's School of Diplomacy and International Relations (08/18/2015)

Menendez Concerns on Iran Deal Include IAEA Committee Dismissal, Sanctions Snapback Options (07/30/2015)

Menendez Remarks at Iran Deal Hearing with Secs. Kerry, Moniz & Lew (07/23/2015)

Menendez Statement on Nuclear Agreement with Iran (07/14/2015)

Menendez Writes Secretary Kerry to Express Grave Concerns About Iran's Nuclear Negotiation Demands (06/26/2015)

Menendez, Kirk Introduce Bill to Renew Key Iran Sanctions Law Targeting Terrorism and Nuclear Proliferation (06/25/2015)

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