December 01, 2016

Manchin Votes to Extend Iran Sanctions

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today voted for the Iran Sanctions Extension Act, which extends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to December 31, 2026.

“Iran is the world’s top state sponsor of terrorism, according to the Department of State, and we must do everything in our power to ensure that this regime is not able to increase its ballistic missile capabilities.  Allowing the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to expire would be a concession to Iran, who continues to act aggressively in spite of the Iran Deal,” Senator Manchin said. “This bill maintains sanctions pressure on the Iranian regime through 2026 to curtail Iran’s development of ballistic missiles, which Iran continues to pursue.”

The Iran Sanctions Act, originally called the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA), was introduced during a tightening of U.S. sanctions on Iran twenty years ago. The original sanctions curbed the strategic threat from Iran by hindering its ability to modernize its key petroleum sector. The Iran Sanctions Extension Act targets further development of Iran’s ballistic missile program and inhibits their ability to purchase conventional weapons.

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