IRAN THREAT REDUCTION AND SYRIA HUMAN RIGHTS ACT OF 2012; Congressional Record Vol. 158, No. 118

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IRAN THREAT REDUCTION AND SYRIA HUMAN RIGHTS ACT OF 2012

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speech of

HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN

of california

in the house of representatives

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, the Iranian nuclear threat is a daunting and

dangerous challenge. With Iran stalling diplomatic talks, adding

enrichment centrifuges, and continuing work at unmonitored enrichment

sites, there is frustration and alarm that time may be running out. But

time has not run out and if we are to avert a military confrontation

with Iran over its nuclear weapons ambitions, we must make use of every

opportunity to pressure Iran to change course. This bill achieves that

goal with sanctions that are deeper and stronger than any we have ever

seen.

Without a doubt sanctions against Iran are having a powerful impact.

In the last year alone, exports of Iranian oil have dropped by sixty

percent. The value of Iran's currency has plummeted by more than one-

third. Full tankers are idling in Iranian harbors unable to sell crude

in the world market. Although Iran has attempted to work around the

sanctions by reflagging vessels and hiding transactions, the shell game

isn't sustainable. Sanctions announced by President Obama in recent

days and weeks and those authorized in the bill before us today will

tighten the grip.

Our message to Iran is loud and clear--there is no escaping

accountability. The consequences of defying the international community

and continuing an illegal nuclear program are severe and they will be

gravely worse if the Iranian government continues on its current

course.

This bill is our third round of congressional sanctions legislation

since the Obama Administration successfully galvanized U.N. Security

Council support for multilateral sanctions against the Iranian nuclear

program in June 2010. Together with sanctions enacted in July 2010 and

December 2011, the sanctions in the bill before us today reinforce the

message to countries, companies and financial institutions that now is

not the time for business as usual with Iran.

The bill gives the Administration an array of new tools to shore up

international resolve. It has sharp enforcement mechanisms to help

enlist other countries in the effort to starve the Iranian nuclear

program of cash flows from Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, the

National Iranian Oil Company, the National Iranian Tanker Company, and

other Iranian banks, businesses and government entities being used to

funnel money into nuclear activities.

The bill also expands sanctions against Iranian and Syrian officials

responsible for human rights abuses by using electronic monitoring and

tracking of regime opposition and specifically targets the paramilitary

organizations that have been most insidious in terrorizing democracy

activists.

But what this bill does not do is authorize war with Iran. In fact,

the bill explicitly says so. I want to underscore that point, because

the motivation of the sanctions is to pressure Iranian leaders to abide

by the International Atomic Energy Agency's demands and negotiate in

good faith and to avoid a military escalation.

As President Obama has stated clearly, the United States does not

have a policy of containment. All options are the on the table if Iran

does not change course. By passing this legislation we will continue to

leave no stone unturned in our determination to try and achieve a

diplomatic resolution to this crisis.

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