Billy Long: Sanctions an important tool to keep Iran in check

(From Seventh District Congressman Billy Long)

In November, I voted in favor of making sure that the American people remain protected from Iran’s threatening behavior by voting for the reauthorization of the Iran Sanctions Act. Following the House’s vote, the Senate also voted in favor of reauthorizing the sanctions. Both the House and the Senate had overwhelming bipartisan support for this bill.

On a regular basis I receive calls from constituents who share their concerns about Washington’s weak response towards Iran.

With the Obama administration's Iran Nuclear deal, it makes reauthorizing these sanctions even more important.

This bill provides the authority to “snap-back” sanctions on Iran’s energy industry if they rush toward a nuclear weapon, it allows the legislative branch to have the final say on when Iran would get permanent sanctions relief and it extends the Iran Sanctions Act for another 10 years.

Though the bill does not affect the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, it allows us to make sure that Iran is being held accountable for their actions. That includes any human rights abuses, state sponsored terrorism or failing to hold up their end of the deal regarding their nuclear weapons program that was agreed to during the JCPOA negations.

Failing to hold up their end of the deal would allow the United States to “snap-back” the sanctions that were once in place before the disastrous JCPOA deal.

If the president vetoes this bill, the sanctions currently in place would expire at the end of the year. This would send a message to the world that the United States condones the immoral behavior of Iran in the Middle East as well as further the damage already done by the Obama administration’s deal.

With a new Congress and new administration, reauthorizing these sanctions will be a fresh start for President-elect Donald Trump to combat Iran’s belligerent actions that have continued to threaten national security all across the world.

To put it simply, reauthorizing these sanctions will be an important tool to keep the Iran regime in check.