Milwaukee City Wire

On December 4, 2023, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and 29 of his Senate GOP colleagues sent a letter to President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, urging the administration to enforce existing sanctions on Iranian steel. In the letter, the senators emphasized the importance of proactively and continuously enforcing these sanctions, citing the detrimental consequences of ineffective enforcement.

The senators highlighted the impact of previous sanctions on Iran's metals industries and steel producers, which significantly decreased Iranian steel exports from 9 million metric tons in 2020 to 4.2 million tons in 2021. However, Iranian steel exports rebounded to 10 million tons in 2022, coinciding with the United States reengaging with Iran to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and a decrease in enforcement of existing sanctions by the Treasury Department.

The senators expressed concern that relaxed sanctions enforcement would only fuel the ability of Iranian-backed proxies to fund and carry out terrorist attacks, further destabilizing the region. They stressed the economic enrichment of the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism resulting from the relaxation of sanctions enforcement.

The senators urged the Biden administration to enforce all Iran-related sanctions at its disposal, including secondary sanctions on other countries engaged in economic activities with Iran. They emphasized the responsibility to protect innocent lives affected by the actions of the Iranian regime.

Among the signatories of the letter were U.S. Sens. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and numerous other Senate Republicans representing various states. Their collective effort demonstrated a unified stance on the enforcement of Iran steel sanctions.

For more information on the senators' letter, Politico provides further details. The full text of the letter can be accessed here.

The senators' appeal to the Biden administration highlights their dedication to maintaining the effectiveness of sanctions on Iranian steel. By prioritizing the enforcement of these sanctions, they aim to prevent economic enrichment that could support terrorist activities and destabilize the region.

To learn more, click on this link: https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/12/sen-johnson-joins-letter-urging-biden-administration-to-enforce-iran-steel-sanctions