LIEBERMAN APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF IRAN SANCTIONS LEGISLATION

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) issued the following statement in response to the passage today by a Senate vote of 99-0 of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010. Senator Lieberman, together with Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ), introduced the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act (S. 908) last year, whose key provisions were incorporated into the comprehensive sanctions bill. He was also a member of the House-Senate conference for this legislation.

“This bill represents the most powerful and comprehensive package of Iran sanctions ever passed by Congress. I am grateful to the leadership of Senator Chris Dodd and Congressman Howard Berman for guiding the development of this complex and critically important legislation, as well as the leadership of Senator Reid and Senator McConnell in ensuring its swift passage by the Senate.

“I hope and believe that the House will now act swiftly to pass this vital legislation, and that President Obama will sign it into law. Just as importantly, it is critical that these provisions are forcefully and proactively implemented once they become law.

“The measures imposed by this legislation—together with sanctions adopted at the UN and, even more importantly, by like-minded nations around the world—offer our last, best hope of peacefully preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability. Time is of the essence.

“Specifically, the new authorities provided by this legislation will cut off foreign banks from the U.S. financial system if they continue doing business with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, its front companies, and designated Iranian banks. They will require investigations and then crippling sanctions on those foreign companies that prop up the Iranian regime by continuing to invest in its energy sector or by exporting refined petroleum products to Iran. This legislation also makes clear that America is on the side of the brave Iranian people who are struggling against the repressive regime in Teheran, by requiring our government to identify those individuals responsible for perpetrating human rights violations in Iran since the June 12 election, and then hold them accountable for these abuses through targeted sanctions.

“While we hope that our combined sanctions will change the calculus of the Iranian regime, we must also recognize that every day that passes brings Iran closer to the point of nuclear no return. Ultimately, we must do whatever is necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability—through peaceful and diplomatic means if we possibly can, but through military force if we absolutely must.”

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See video of Senator Lieberman's floor speech on the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 by clicking here.