Congress takes aim at Iran's ballistic missiles
The House and Senate have wrapped up sanctions legislation just in time for AIPAC confab.
Both chambers of Congress are introducing bipartisan Iran sanctions bills this week just in time for the main pro-Israel lobby's annual conference in Washington.
Legislation from House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, R-Calif., would require the Donald Trump administration to sanction Iranian and foreign individuals and entities that support Tehran's ballistic missile program, according to a copy obtained by Al-Monitor. The panel's top Democrat, Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., is co-sponsoring the bill, according to an aide.
Meanwhile, in the Senate, Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and Robert Menendez, D-N.J., introduced broader legislation March 23 that would also target Iran over its human rights violations and terrorism. It would notably extend terrorism sanctions to the Islam Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and sanction anyone found to violate the international arms embargo against Iran. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Calibri; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000} span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
A total of 14 lawmakers — seven Republicans and seven Democrats — are original co-sponsors, including ranking member Ben Cardin, D-Md. Both he and Menendez voted against the 2015 nuclear deal.
