Bipartisan coalition of 89 House members press the Administration to act now; Co-led by Congressmen Roskam (R-IL) and Lipinski (D-IL)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, eighty-nine Members of Congress sent a letter to the Obama Administration, urging the Administration to fully enforce newly enacted Iran sanctions measures approved by Congress and signed into law by President Obama.  The Iran sanctions provisions were included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (NDAA).  The lawmakers said the letter was necessary because at this critical time, a hesitant, reserved, partial or half-hearted effort will only aid Iran in their dangerous quest for nuclear capability.

Lance and the lawmakers wrote: “Upon signing the bill, you indicated that the sanctions program language was advisory only.  It is not.  As a co-equal branch of government, Congress has acted with overwhelming bipartisanship to put in place this tool to combat Iran’s continued march towards nuclear weapons capability.  We respectfully urge you to clarify that your intent is to fully and forcefully implement these provisions.  We hope we can continue to work with your Administration to shut off the spigot of financial support that has allowed Iran to continue to thwart international engagement thus far.”

“There is a growing concern that the Administration does not fully support the tough new sanctions passed by Congress to thwart Iran’s nuclear pursuits. It is the overwhelming position of the House and Senate that President Obama must use all available resources to prevent a nuclear Iran,”said Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07).

“With a belligerent Iranian regime marching towards nuclear capability, the time is now for President Obama to fully unleash the new sanctions at his disposal. The potential cost of half-action is unthinkable for America and our allies,”said Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06) about the letter.

“A nuclear-armed Iran is one of the most significant threats facing the United States and our allies in the world today. Congress has passed the laws that are needed to implement further sanctions against Iran to deter it from pursuing nuclear weapons – now the President must take full advantage of the tools at his disposal. The longer we delay, the closer Iran will move to acquiring nuclear technology,” said Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-IL).

Click here to read the full text of the letter to President Obama.

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