U.S. Senators Jim Risch and Marco Rubio have issued a statement expressing their concerns over the Biden-Harris Administration’s handling of the Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum Act (SHIP). The law, enacted earlier this year, mandates sanctions on entities involved in the purchase of Iranian oil. However, according to Risch and Rubio, the administration has not met deadlines to impose these sanctions.
The senators stated, “While Iran continues to fuel terror from the sales of illicit oil, which mostly benefit Beijing, the Biden-Harris Administration has failed to fully implement the Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Act.” They emphasized that despite the State Department’s assertions of commitment to enforcing the law, there is a lack of action against individuals and entities connected to China’s acquisition of Iranian oil.
The statement follows a letter sent by Risch, Rubio, and other colleagues to President Biden in September 2024. This correspondence highlighted their concerns about what they see as an inadequate enforcement of SHIP.
Risch and Rubio argue that Iran’s revenue from oil sales is being used to fund terrorism. They call for stronger measures from the U.S. government in response to Tehran’s activities.
