Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on Iran’s ballistic missile provocations, including a joint statement with Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.).
“We are continuing to work on bipartisan sanctions legislation,” said Cardin and Corker. “Iran remains a bipartisan concern and we are committed to taking action to ensure that Iran does not become a threshold nuclear weapons state.”
“I am committed to working on bipartisan sanctions legislation to extend the Iran Sanctions Act, which expires later this year, and on sanctions to respond to Iran’s repeated ballistic missile launches,” said Senator Cardin. “On October 1, 2015, I introduced S. 2119, the Iran Policy Oversight Act, with colleagues who both supported and opposed the JCPOA. The purpose of that legislation was to enhance oversight of Iran’s compliance with the JCPOA, so that Iran never becomes a nuclear weapons state. It also strengthens the United States’ resolve against Iran’s ballistic missile program and other nefarious actions. Recent events in Iran underscore the need for a statutory framework to respond to Iran’s ballistic missile tests. Responding to Iran’s provocations is consistent with our JCPOA obligations. As the President stated while Congress was considering the JCPOA, ‘Anyone worldwide who transacts with or supports individuals or entities sanctioned in connection with Iran’s support for terrorism or development of WMD and missiles – or who does the same with any Iranian individual or entity who remains on our sanctions lists – puts themselves at risk of being cut off from the U.S. financial system. This includes foreign financial institutions, which would risk losing their correspondent accounts with U.S. banks. Sanctions will also continue to apply to persons who provide Iran with specified weapons, dual-use goods and related technologies. This is a point we have made clear to our partners, and to Iran.’ I look forward to working with Senator Corker on bipartisan legislation that can accomplish these objectives.”