August 30, 2010 | Press Release

FDD on New Congressional Iran Sanctions Working Group

Washington, D.C. (August 3, 2010) – Statement from Mark Dubowitz, FDD Executive Director and Director, Iran Energy Project:

“The House of Representatives took the right step in creating a Bipartisan Working Group on Iran Sanctions Implementation. Congress is clearly determined and relentless in its drive to enforce Iran sanctions laws. The Iranian energy industry is opaque and complex. The Iranian regime is implementing countermeasures and using front groups, cutouts and companies prepared to risk the ire of the United States to circumvent sanctions. To address this, the Working Group needs to gather the best open source and classified information on Iran’s energy partners, consult the best experts, conduct its own investigations, and hold the Obama administration to account for strict and timely sanctions enforcement. The hour is late and the stakes could not be higher.”

Through its Iran Energy Project, FDD provides leading research and analysis in support of strong, broad-based energy sanctions, including gasoline, natural gas, and oil sanctions, and focuses on the prominent role of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran’s energy industry. For more information, please visit IranEnergyProject.org.

For more information on the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ research and analysis of Iran’s energy industry, dependence on foreign suppliers and contractors, and vulnerability to sanctions, please contact Judy Mayka at (202) 622-3948 or [email protected].

Congress of the United States
House Committee on Foreign Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Contact:  David Barnes, 202-225-5021

Berman, Ros-Lehtinen Announce Launch of Bipartisan Working Group on Iran Sanctions Implementation

Washington, DC – Congressman Howard L. Berman, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the Ranking Republican Member of the Committee, today released the following statement regarding their initiation of a bipartisan Working Group on Iran Sanction Implementation:

“Today we are initiating a working group that will help ensure that U.S. and international sanctions on Iran are fully implemented, effectively enforced and, ultimately, have the intended effect of bringing about Iran’s termination of all activities contributing to its pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability.”

“The Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act of 2010, which was signed into law by President Obama on July 1, has already had a significant impact on Iran’s access to international markets and its ability to acquire refined petroleum.”

“We will continue to pressure and isolate Iran until it terminates its illicit nuclear weapons activities.  A nuclear-armed Iran is unacceptable.”

The bipartisan Working Group on Iran Sanctions Implementation will meet on a regular basis with Administration officials, foreign ambassadors, and outside experts to oversee and verify enforcement of Iran sanctions implementation.

The Foreign Affairs Committee will also hold a hearing this fall on Iran sanctions implementation.


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Issues:

Iran