US House Committee Passes Bill Banning Iran Military Drones
The US House Foreign Affairs Committee Friday passed a bipartisan bill that would ban the supply, sale or transfer of military drones to or from Iran under US law.
The bill was introduced by a group of Republicans and Democrats in late November. The lawmakers behind the proposed legislation (H.R. 6089), the Stop Iranian Drones Act (SIDA), say it clarifies that US sanctions on Iran’s conventional weapons program under CAATSA (The Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) include the supply, sale or transfer to or from Iran of drones.
The draft legislation was presented by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Ted Deutch (D-FL), and Joe Wilson (R-SC) Tuesday.
Iran’s military drone program has expanded in recent years and UAV’s have been more frequently used in attacks in recent months both on land and at sea.
In an interview with the Associated Press on Friday, commander of CENTCOM Gen. Kenneth McKenzie expressed concern over the growing capabilities of Iranian missiles and drones.
“Iran’s UAV proliferation continues to threaten the U.S. and our allies throughout the Middle East. Whether the attack is launched by Iran, the Houthis, Iran-backed militia groups or any other Iran-sponsored entities, these attacks are intolerable,” Rep. McCaul said.
