Democrat and Republican senators put forward this week a resolution calling for strengthening US sanctions against Tehran.
Sponsored by 33 Senate colleagues, the bipartisan resolution urges the Biden administration to strengthen international efforts to impose additional sanctions on officials and entities responsible for the violent suppression of demonstrations in Iran.
It also underscores the importance of the US government and private sector providing additional support for access to digital communications and internet freedom in Iran so that Iranian citizens have the tools necessary to communicate with the world and each other.
“I am proud to be joined by my colleagues in reintroducing this bipartisan resolution commending the bravery of these Iranian protesters who have stood their ground against the Iranian regime for more than 130 days and counting,” said Bob Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
He praised the recent steps taken by the international community to impose coordinated sanctions, isolate Iran from international fora, and provide Iranians with the technology they need to circumvent the regime’s censorship. “These are exactly the kind of actions this resolution supports,” Menendez said.
Jim Risch, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke about the importance of tightening US sanctions on Tehran in several fields, in addition to addressing Iran’s dangerous collusions with Russia.
“The Biden Administration should step up efforts on helping to end the regime’s systematic persecution of women and holding human rights violators in Iran to account,” he stated.
For her part, Senator Marsha Blackburn supported Risch’s approach, strongly urging the Biden administration to impose additional human rights sanctions on the Iranian government and prioritize efforts to ensure unrestricted internet access in Iran.
“It’s important that we send Iran and the rest of the world a clear message: The United States is watching and will not tolerate this egregious suppression of freedom,” she said.
This came few days after the US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan resolution expressing support for Iranian protesters and condemning the government crackdown.
The resolution, which passed 420 votes to one, was the first to be presented in the House after its new session. It reveals that the Iranian file enjoys great consensus among Democrats and Republicans.
Commenting on the resolution, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney said the House reaffirmed with one voice its commitment to support these brave Iranian protestors, who are more resolved than ever to fight the regime in Tehran.
