If Nuclear Plan Negotiations Don't Pan Out, Should The U.S. Impose More Sanctions On Iran? (S. 269)

What is S. 269?

(Updated April 19, 2018)

This bill would impose additional economic sanctions on Iran if current international negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program do not yield a final deal by June 30, 2015. Sanctions would be implemented only if the negotiations fail to produce a deal by the deadline.

The new sanctions would:

• abolish existing loopholes in current petroleum sanctions; 
• strengthen sanctions on Iran’s oil trade and financial transactions;
• impose further sanctions on Iran’s senior government officials and other individuals for assisting in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) or sponsoring terrorism; 
• tighten around Iran’s shipbuilding, automotive, construction, engineering and mining sectors.
  

Iran is currently negotiating with six major powers (U.S., U.K., China, France, Russia, and Germany) on reaching a comprehensive deal in which Iran could continue a peaceful nuclear energy program, and the international community could rest assured that Iran is not developing nuclear weapons. The original deadline to reach a deal was July 20, 2014. When a deal could not be reached by that date, it was subsequently extended until November 24, 2014, then extended again to June 30, 2015.

Argument in favor

The negotiations with Iran have dragged on for too long. If the U.S. doesn’t tighten its sanctions on Iran, the negotiations may last forever with no clear solutions in sight. The more time we take, the more time Iran has to develop nuclear weapons.

Argument opposed

It is not confirmed whether or not Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program; yet the U.S. continues to impose sanctions on Iran that negatively affect innocent Iranian citizens. Moreover, rushing negotiations could hurt the progress we’ve made so far.

Impact

Iranian citizens, Iranian-American citizens, their families, the U.S. economy, Iran’s economy, diplomatic relations between Iran and the U.S., and the global oil market.

Cost of S. 269

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In Depth:

Additionally, the bill:

• Increases congressional oversight of the U.S./Iran negotiations and requires the Administration to formally submit any new nuclear agreement text or extension to Congress within five days. 

• Gives Congress 30 days to review any nuclear agreement before the President can waive, defer, or suspend sanctions. 

• States that the President can only waive sanctions if it is necessary to do so in the interest of U.S. national security, or if such a waiver would make a long-term comprehensive solution with Iran more likely. 

• States that if there is no final agreement by July 6, 2015, this bill would re-impose sanctions that have been waived while the negotiations have been ongoing, which would begin in August and run through December. 

Of Note:

Iran is a non-nuclear weapon state party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The country has an advanced, fast-growing nuclear program that it proclaims to be peaceful in nature. Iran failed to report substantial parts of its program to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and insists on fully developing the nuclear fuel. This has led to international diplomatic pressure and sanctions, as many countries worry that Iran is secretly attempting to develop nuclear weapons.

Media:

Sponsoring Rep. Mark Kirtk (R-IL) Press Release

The Hill

Fox News

NIA Council