Oregon Lawmaker Wants Iran to Shut Down Nuclear Ambition

Oregon Senator Gordon Smith leads Bipartisan effort targeting Iran’s finance and trade.

Senator Gordeon Smith

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Gordon H. Smith (R-OR) is leading a group of bipartisan Senators who want to impose tougher economic sanctions on Iran for its continued pursuit of a nuclear program.

“We should use every diplomatic and economic tool at our disposal to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons,” Smith said.

“The message is clear; the international community will not tolerate flagrant violations.”

Iran has pursued a nuclear weapons program while consistently misleading the United Nations and the international community about the objective and scope of its nuclear activities.

Iran has repeatedly refused to comply with UN regulations calling for the suspension of its programs.

The Iran Counter-Proliferation Act of 2007 (S. 970) strengthens economic sanctions against Iran.

The legislation:

- Prohibits all imports and exports to Iran - Urges U.S. banks and financial institutions not to handle any transactions, direct or indirect, with Iran’s state owned banks - Urges the United Nations Security Counsel to take measures to prevent new investment in Iran’s energy sector - Forbids any action that would extend preferential trade treatment to Iran or that would lead to Iranian accession to the World Trade Organization - Designates $10 million to enhance direct relationships with the people of Iran by identifying young Iranians to visit the United States - Freezes the assets of senior Iranian officials and their families - Prevents nuclear co-operation with Russia until Russia has suspended its nuclear assistance to Iran - Reduces U.S. contributions to the World Bank by the percentage of total money the World Bank loans to entities in Iran

Senator Smith is joined by bipartisan coalition of Senators that includes: Senators Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), Evan Bayh (D-IN), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Trent Lott (R-MS), John Thune (R-SD), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Norm Coleman (R-MN), and Jon Kyl (R-AZ).