U.S. Senate votes to extend Iran sanctions
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-09-30 16:19
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Congress agreed on Saturday to extend sanctions on Iran
set to expire this weekend that are aimed at choking off funds that could aid
Iran in developing nuclear weapons.
With Congress scrambling to finish business before heading out to campaign
for November 7 elections, the Senate approved a bill that matched one the House
of Representatives approved on Thursday to keep the sanctions from expiring.
The bill would renew for five more years economic sanctions - known as the
Iran-Libya Sanctions Act or ILSA - to discourage companies from investing in
Iran's energy sector. Libya, which now has warming relations with the United
States, was dropped from the sanctions.
The United States and other major powers are trying to get Iran to curb its
nuclear program, which they suspect is aimed at developing nuclear weapons.
Tehran maintains it is for civilian energy needs.
The bill also establishes mandatory economic sanctions on companies that
provide Iran any goods, services or technologies that can be used in programs
for nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.
It also authorizes assistance for human rights and pro-democracy groups and
for independent broadcasting organizations that meet its criteria.
The bill initially was resisted by the White House until lawmakers agreed to
give President George W. Bush more room to waive the
sanctions.
|
