Hurt backs effort to tighten sanctions on Iran

Congressman Robert Hurt (R-Va.) today released the following statement after the Iran Threat Reduction Act passed the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support by a vote of 410-11. Congressman Hurt is a cosponsor of this measure.

“It is clear that Iran poses a great national security threat to our nation, our allies, and our interests. And as Iran inches dangerously close to nuclear capability, we must take proactive measures to enforce policies that will not only deter, but completely disengage the Iranian regime from its hostile nuclear proliferation program. This legislation does just that by taking aim at its primary source of funding, its energy sector – adding more rigorous financial and energy sanctions, including a provision that would allow sanctions on those that conduct business in Iran’s petroleum industry. As the Iranian nuclear threats continue to evolve, so should the United States’ ability to address those threats. And this legislation will allow us to proactively preserve our security both at home in the Fifth District and across this country.”

H.R. 1905 was introduced by the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and allows the United States to take further steps to impose more comprehensive financial and energy sanctions, as well as close loopholes in current sanction law so that we may deter Iranian nuclear proliferation efforts.