2013 Briefing Book - Print Version - Aipac

ISRAEL AT RISK
What Congress Has Done to Counter
Nuclear Proliferation
Rejected containment as an option. Congress has overwhelmingly passed resolutions
affirming that it is U.S. policy to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons
capability and opposing any reliance on a policy seeking to contain a nuclearcapable
Iran.
Focused World Attention on Iran’s Pursuit of Nuclear Weapons. Congress has helped
lead an international effort to draw attention to the dangers of an Iranian nuclear
program. Congressional resolutions have condemned Iran for its repeated violations
of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations and demanded cooperation with
international nuclear inspectors. Members of Congress have reached out to foreign
nations, urging them to enact tougher sanctions on Iran, and reached out to foreign
businesses, urging them to exit the Iranian market.
Passed Far-Reaching Sanctions Against Iran. Congress has passed increasingly tougher
sanctions on Iran. The Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 targeted foreign investment in
Iran’s energy sector—the lifeblood of the Iranian economy. In 2010, Congress passed
the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act (CISADA),
authorizing sanctions against foreign banks that conduct business with Iranian entities
involved in nuclear arms proliferation. CISADA also includes key provisions targeting
nations that allow shipment of illicit materials to Iran. In 2011, Congress passed
unprecedented sanctions against Iran’s Central Bank, a key facilitator of Iran’s nuclear
weapons program.
Both the House and Senate in August 2012 overwhelmingly passed the Iran
Threat Reduction Act of 2012, which enshrines in law that it is U.S. policy to
prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, escalates the level of sanctions
against the regime’s human rights violators, and sharply tightens the enforcement
of existing sanctions law.
Cut Off Flow of Dual-Use Materials to Iran and Syria. U.S. export laws currently
restrict sales of dual-use American technology and Congress has passed legislation
authorizing sanctions against foreign entities that supply nuclear and missile
components to Iran. Congress has also provided significant funding for diplomatic,
military and intelligence efforts to intercept illicit shipments to Iran.
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