|
WASHINGTON –
In
an
effort
to
denounce
global
aggression
and
terrorist
activities,
U.S.
Senator
Tim
Scott
(R-SC)
joined
several
of
his
colleagues
in supporting
and
co-sponsoring
the Countering
Iran’s
Destabilizing
Activities
Act.
This
legislation
will
strengthen
American
sanctions
against
those
that
carry
out
and
support
activities
contributing
to
Iran’s
ballistic
missile
program,
state-sponsored
terrorism,
and
conventional
arms
trade.
The
bill
also
included
a
bipartisan
amendment
co-sponsored
by
Sen.
Scott to
expand
existing
economic
sanctions
against
Russia
and
allow
Congress
to
review
any
action
by
the
President
to
lift
existing
penalties.
“Actions
and
provocations
by
both
Iran
and
Russia
continue
to
show
their
unwillingness
to
work
with
us
on
establishing
peace
and
stability,”
said
Scott.
“They
quite
simply
have
left
us
no
choice
but
to
strengthen
sanctions.
I
was
glad
to
join
such
a
strong
contingent
of
my
colleagues
to
send
a
clear
message
that
these
actions
and
programs
will
not
be
tolerated.”
Specifically,
the Countering
Iran’s
Destabilizing
Activities
Act
will
impose
the
following
sanctions:
Target
Iran’s
Ballistic
Missile
Program:
- Imposes
sanctions
on
persons
engaged
in
efforts
to
manufacture,
acquire,
possess,
develop,
transport,
transfer,
or
use
ballistic
missiles.
- Includes
anyone
that
knowingly
provides,
or
attempts
to
provide,
financial,
material,
technological,
or
other
support
to
the
individuals
above.
Target
Iran’s
Terrorism
and
Conventional
Arms
Trade
- Imposes
terrorism-related
sanctions
on
Iran’s
Islamic
Revolutionary
Guard
Corps
(IRGC).
- Places
sanctions
on
persons
who
kill
or
torture
those
who
wish
to
exercise
or
defend
internationally
recognized
human
rights
or
wish
to
expose
illegal
activity
in
Iran.
- Places
sanctions
on
persons
who
violate
the
arms
embargo
placed
on
Iran.
Other
Provisions
include:
- Prohibits
the
lifting
of
sanctions
on
those
mentioned
above
unless
the
person
has
ceased
support
for
the
relevant
activity
for
three
months.
- Mandates
the
creation
of
a
US
strategy
to
counter
Iranian
conventional
and
asymmetric
activities
that
threaten
US
and
our
allies
in
the
Middle
East.
- Requires
a
report
on
US
citizens
detained
in
Iran
and
those
who
hold
them.
- Requires
a
report
on
discrepancies
between
US
and
European
sanctions
targeting
Iran.
- Provides
authority
to
waive
sanctions
against
persons
on
case-by-case
basis
for
a
period
of
no
more
than
180
days,
if
such
a
waiver
is
vital
to
US
security
interests.
### |