Today, Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-21), Ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, applauded the passage of the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act of 2013 by the House of Representatives. The bipartisan sanctions package intensifies economic pressure on the Iranian regime by further restricting its oil exports, further isolating the regime from the international financial system, and cracking down on egregious human rights abuses. The Nuclear Iran Prevention Act also includes multiple provisions authored by Congressman Deutch, including measures expanding the ability of states to divest from businesses in Iran and preventing Iran from obtaining technologies used for the repression of the Iranian people. 

“Newly elected Iranian President Rohani is scheduled to be sworn in just 4 days, and he campaigned on relief from economic sanctions,” said Congressman Deutch on the House floor prior to the bill’s passage. “Now is the time to let the President-Elect’s actions speak louder than his words. Let him tell the Supreme Leader that the U.S. Congress has passed new, devastating economic sanctions, and the only way to relief is to negotiate an end to Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Our policy toward Iran has always been dual tracked – sanctions and diplomacy.  Now is not the time to give up on either.”

Click here to watch Congressman Deutch argue for the passage of H.R. 850.