News / Nuclear Energy / Foreign Policy

US House passes bill restricting removal of Iran sanctions

Wednesday, 03 February 2016 1:34 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 03 February 2016 1:44 AM ]

A staff member removes the Iranian flag from the stage after a meeting of officials from Iran and the P5+1 in Vienna. (Reuters)

The US House of Representatives has approved a bill aimed at hindering the implementation of Iran’s historical nuclear agreement with the P5+1 group of countries.

On Tuesday, members voted 246-181 to pass the "Iran Terror Finance Transparency Act," which curbs President Barack Obama's ability to remove certain sanctions waiting to be removed in accordance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The bill was almost passed last month, but voting on the measure was canceled after nearly one third of lawmakers did not show up in time to cast their votes.

The measures, being pushed by the Republican party, are not expected to become legislation as Obama has vowed a veto, arguing that they would derail the agreement.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia – plus Germany started to implement the JCPOA on January 16.

After JCPOA went into effect, all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the Security Council and the US were lifted. Iran in return has put some limitations on its nuclear activities. The nuclear agreement was signed on July 14, 2015 following two and a half years of intensive talks.

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