Senators Urge More Enforcement of Iran Sanctions

Sens. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., in a letter called on President Joe Biden to increase enforcement of Iran sanctions, especially in the lucrative oil and gas sector, to reduce the revenue Tehran has available to “fund aggression and terrorism in the Middle East and beyond,” the lawmakers said last week.

They recommended fully sanctioning the “ghost fleet” of more than 300 oil tankers that allow Iran to evade sanctions; third-country ports used by ships transporting Iranian oil to their final destinations; and all entities based in China, including Hong Kong, that buy or finance Iranian oil imports. They also called for expansion and enforcement of secondary sectoral sanctions on Iranian metals, petrochemicals, natural gas, natural gas condensates and other smaller revenue sources, like Iran’s automotive sector.

Other suggested actions include expanding secondary sanctions to the immediate family members of people sanctioned for terrorism and weapons of mass destruction-related activity; prioritizing shutting down Iranian revenue from all foreign governments, including U.S. adversaries like China; and supporting the proposed Iranian Sanctions Enforcement Act, which would create a funding mechanism for increased investigations, seizure and sale of illicit Iranian oil.

The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

A group of 18 senators led by Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., sent a similar letter to Biden in January (see 2402010058).