2013 Briefing Book - Print Version - Aipac

IRAN
What Congress Has Done to Counter Iran’s
Support for Terrorism
Outlawed Support for Terrorist Entities. Congress has enacted legislation giving wide
authority to the executive branch to impose sanctions on entities that engage in
terrorism, finance terrorism or otherwise facilitate terrorist activities. Under this
authority, the Treasury Department has sanctioned multiple Iranian entities involved
in terrorism, making it a crime for U.S. citizens to provide them with material
support. In 2007, the Treasury Department sanctioned the IRGC-Quds Force,
the facilitator of much of Iran’s terrorist activities.
Targeted the Source of Iran’s Terror Funding. Congress has also targeted Iran’s energy
sector, whose revenue funds terrorist activities. The Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 has
helped limit investments in Iran’s energy sector, costing the regime tens of billions of
dollars that could have been used to finance terrorism. In addition, the United States
has targeted Iranian banks involved in the transfer of funds to terrorist entities. Since
2006, more than 20 Iranian banks have been sanctioned for supporting terrorism or
aiding Iran’s nuclear program.
Provided Support to Iran’s Victims. Congress has sought to provide support to the
victims of Iranian terrorism by allowing civil lawsuits against the Iranian regime.
In 1996, Congress amended the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) to allow
victims of terrorism to sue designated state sponsors of terrorism for their terrorist acts.
Victims have since won multiple judgments—totaling billions of dollars—against Iran.
Congress has also worked to provide avenues for the victims to collect their financial
awards from the Iranian government.
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