US Representative Mike Simpson of Idaho said on Monday that a bipartisan bill he is co-sponsoring will sap Iranian oil profits and disrupt funding for its armed allies in the Middle East.
"Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. Implementing stronger sanctions on countries that support and facilitate Iran’s oil trade will disrupt the regime’s oil supply chain and hinder the dangerous activities that fund its terrorist proxies," the Republican Representative said in a statement.
The bipartisan measure, introduced in February by Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), focuses on China's role in buying Iranian crude, cracking down on shadow fleet facilitators like banks, insurers and shipping firms.
Lawler, who represents a district with a significant Persian community, said in May many of his Iranian-American constituents support a tougher US stance.
Officially introduced as HR 1422, the bill builds on recent US sanctions against Tehran's oil evasion tactics, amid renewed Trump administration pressure.
It adds secondary sanctions on entities involved in Iranian oil processing, exports, or sales, and mandates a State Department interagency group on sanctions plus a multilateral contact group with allies to enforce measures.
Simpson on Monday praised the Trump administration's economic pressure on Iran, calling the legislation critical for national security and Middle East allies.
The bill follows previous Iran oil sanctions legislation sponsored by Lawler, which became law last year.
