Senator Scott Supports Stronger Sanctions Against Iran, Russia

WASHINGTON – In an effort to denounce global aggression and terrorist activities, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) joined several of his colleagues in supporting and co-sponsoring the Countering Iran’s Destabilizing Activities Act. This legislation will strengthen American sanctions against those that carry out and support activities contributing to Iran’s ballistic missile program, state-sponsored terrorism, and conventional arms trade.

The bill also included a bipartisan amendment co-sponsored by Sen. Scott to expand existing economic sanctions against Russia and allow Congress to review any action by the President to lift existing penalties.

“Actions and provocations by both Iran and Russia continue to show their unwillingness to work with us on establishing peace and stability,” said Scott. “They quite simply have left us no choice but to strengthen sanctions. I was glad to join such a strong contingent of my colleagues to send a clear message that these actions and programs will not be tolerated.”

Specifically, the Countering Iran’s Destabilizing Activities Act will impose the following sanctions:

Target Iran’s Ballistic Missile Program:

• Imposes sanctions on persons engaged in efforts to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer, or use ballistic missiles.
• Includes anyone that knowingly provides, or attempts to provide, financial, material, technological, or other support to the individuals above.

Target Iran’s Terrorism and Conventional Arms Trade:

• Imposes terrorism-related sanctions on Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
• Places sanctions on persons who kill or torture those who wish to exercise or defend internationally recognized human rights or wish to expose illegal activity in Iran.
• Places sanctions on persons who violate the arms embargo placed on Iran.

Other Provisions include:

• Prohibits the lifting of sanctions on those mentioned above unless the person has ceased support for the relevant activity for three months.
• Mandates the creation of a US strategy to counter Iranian conventional and asymmetric activities that threaten US and our allies in the Middle East.
• Requires a report on US citizens detained in Iran and those who hold them.
• Requires a report on discrepancies between US and European sanctions targeting Iran.
• Provides authority to waive sanctions against persons on case-by-case basis for a period of no more than 180 days, if such a waiver is vital to US security interests.