Husted supports bill to bolster U.S. sanctions against Iran

WASHINGTON – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) has joined Sen. Dan Sullivan’s (R-Alaska) Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act. This bill supports the return to President Trump’s maximum pressure posture toward Iran by expanding and strengthening U.S. sanctions against Iran’s energy exports.

“Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and a notorious human rights abuser, exploited President Biden’s weaknesses in order to endanger America’s interests throughout the Middle East. As Iranian proxies continue to threaten Israel’s survival and U.S. shipping in the Red Sea, the U.S. must cut off Tehran’s ruthless regime from the resources it needs to fund its aggression,” said Husted.

The legislation would expand the range of sanctions to include the full logistical chain of Iranian energy exports, including ports and refineries that process Iranian petroleum. It would also encourage increased interagency and international coordination to track and target Iran’s illicit transfers of oil and gas. Lastly, the bill would authorize the Secretary of State to pay financial rewards to persons who help the U.S. identify energy sanctions evasion schemes.

“The Biden administration refused to enforce the comprehensive Iran sanctions that President Trump enacted during his first term. As a result, Iran was given more than $70 billion and used this windfall to spread terror across the Middle East and in Israel. Congress needs to send a clear message that this must stop,” said Sullivan.

Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), and a bipartisan group of 20 additional senators also cosponsored the bill.

Full text of the bill is available here.