Growing Iran-Russia Defense Partnership Warrants CAATSA Sanctions, Lawmakers Say

The State Department should impose “mandatory sanctions” against Iran under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act in response to the country’s “significant defense transactions” with Russia, three Republicans said in a March 29 letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Iran and Russia are building a “full-fledged defense partnership,” the letter said, which has led to “concerning advances in Iran’s military capabilities” and helped Russia sustain its war in Ukraine.

Iran may soon supply Russia with short-range ballistic missiles, said Reps. Michael McCaul of Texas, Joe Wilson of South Carolina and Tom Kean of New Jersey, and Russia is offering Iran an “unprecedented level of military and technical support” in exchange. The lawmakers also said Iran has claimed it plans to buy an Su-35, Russia’s “most advanced fighter jet,” by year-end, which they said would qualify as a “significant transaction” under CAATSA.

“The Administration must therefore impose mandatory sanctions pursuant to CAATSA on Iran for this transaction, consistent with U.S. law,” the lawmakers said. The administration also “must leverage all relevant policy tools, including export controls and sanctions authorities, to discourage and hamper the destabilizing relationship between these two dangerous malign actors.”

A State Department spokesperson said Iran and Russia’s "deepening security partnership continues to be a grave concern," adding that the U.S. "has long advised all countries to avoid major new transactions for military equipment" with Russia. "Such transactions, if determined to be 'significant' by the Secretary of State, will result in sanctions under CAATSA Section 231," the spokesperson said March 30.