Sec. 2. Findings

417 words·~2 min read·/bill/114/hr/5631/ih/section-2

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Congress finds the following: On April 2, 2015, in announcing a framework agreement for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, President Obama stated that other American sanctions on Iran for its support of terrorism, its human rights abuses, its ballistic missile program, will continue to be fully enforced . On July 14, 2015, President Obama stated that we will maintain our own sanctions related to Iran’s support for terrorism, its ballistic missile program, and its human rights violations .

On January 16, 2016, President Obama stated that We still have sanctions on Iran for its violations of human rights, for its support of terrorism, and for its ballistic missile program. And we will continue to enforce these sanctions, vigorously. . On January 21, 2016, Secretary of State John Kerry admitted that sanctions relief under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action would go to terrorist organizations, stating: I think that some of it will end up in the hands of the IRGC or other entities, some of which are labeled terrorists … You know, to some degree, I'm not going to sit here and tell you that every component of that can be prevented. .

Secretary of State John Kerry stated on July 23, 2015, We will not violate the [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)] if we use our authorities to impose sanctions on Iran for terrorism, human rights, missiles, or other nonnuclear reasons. And the JCPOA does not provide Iran any relief from United States sanctions under any of those authorities or other authorities. . Director of National Intelligence James Clapper wrote on February 9, 2016, [T]he Islamic Republic of Iran presents an enduring threat to U.S national interests because of its support to regional terrorist and militant groups and the Assad regime, as well as its development of advanced military capabilities.

Tehran views itself as leading the . axis of resistance which includes the Asad regime and sub-national groups aligned with Iran, especially Lebanese Hezbollah and Iraqi Shia militants … Tehran might even use American citizens detained when entering Iranian territories as bargaining pieces to achieve financial or political concessions in line with heir strategic intentions. Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew stated on July 14, 2015, We harbor no illusions about the Iranian government’s nefarious activities beyond its nuclear program.

Make no mistake: we will continue to impose and aggressively enforce sanctions to combat Iran’s support for terrorist groups, its fomenting of violence in the region, and its perpetration of human rights abuses. .