Iran Sanctions Would Expand Under Senate Bill

Senate Bill 1881 Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act of 2013

The Essentials
1. President Obama says the interim deal Iran struck with the U.S. and other world powers in November to temporarily freeze its nuclear program—in exchange for limited relief from sanctions—is a crucial step toward a far-reaching agreement to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. But some Democrats and Republicans in Congress, suspicious of Iran’s intentions, are pushing for even tougher sanctions they say will help force the country’s leaders to unwind their enrichment program.

2. Diplomacy has been used by Iran to “buy time … to make nuclear advances,” the bill argues, while sanctions have brought Iran to the negotiating table. Seeking to strengthen sanctions already in place, the bill calls for further restrictions on Iran’s ability to sell oil to other countries. New sanctions would be imposed on Iran’s mining, engineering, and construction sectors. It also calls on the U.S. to “stand with Israel” if it must take defensive military action against Iran.