Boise City Wire

U.S. Senators Jim Risch, Marco Rubio, Maggie Hassan, and a bipartisan group of colleagues have sent a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to enforce current law and take action against Iran's illicit oil trade through sanctions. The senators also expressed support for proposed legislation pending in the U.S. Senate.

The letter comes in response to the more than 140 attacks against U.S. troops since the start of Hamas's assault against Israel on October 7, 2024. The senators emphasized that strengthening sanctions on Iranian oil is crucial, especially in light of the ongoing attacks on U.S. forces across the Middle East by Iranian-backed groups.

The senators wrote, "Our bipartisan Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum Act, or SHIP Act, the End Iranian Terrorism Act, and other legislative proposals would deny Iran the financial resources it employs to attack U.S. forces and U.S. allies throughout the Middle East. We urge you to use all available authorities to proactively implement these sanctions while Congress considers enacting legislation."

They also highlighted the importance of preventing illicit trade in Iranian oil, as Iran has been using the financial resources derived from this trade to support terrorist activities. The senators called for immediate action to deny the regime in Iran additional financial resources that could be used to continue supporting terrorism, destabilizing the Middle East, and harming Americans.

The senators specifically mentioned the need to focus on Iran's expanding and lucrative illicit oil trade, which has increased over the last few years. They highlighted the sanctions detailed in the SHIP and End IT Acts, which would strengthen existing sanctions by targeting ships, ports, and refineries involved in transactions with Iranian oil products.

The senators emphasized the significant economic benefits Iran derives from sanctions evasion and highlighted Iran's increasing financial and material support for terrorist proxies, such as Hamas and Hezbollah. They cited well-documented evidence that Iranian weapons were used in the October 7 attack on Israel. The senators also highlighted the ongoing attacks on U.S. forces in the region by Iranian-backed groups, with more than 140 attacks reported since October 7, 2023, resulting in tragic deaths and injuries.

In conclusion, the senators called on President Biden to take additional action to stop Iran's illicit oil trade. They specifically urged him to sanction ships transporting Iranian petroleum products, as well as the foreign ports and refineries that knowingly accept those products.

The letter was signed by Senators Jim Risch, Marco Rubio, Maggie Hassan, Jacky Rosen, Mike Crapo, Bob Casey, Bill Hagerty, John Fetterman, Shelley Moore Capito, Catherine Cortez-Masto, Lisa Murkowski, Marsha Blackburn, Rick Scott, Katie Boyd Britt, Deb Fischer, Ted Budd, John Cornyn, and Pete Ricketts.

This bipartisan effort reflects the senators' commitment to strengthening the enforcement of Iran sanctions and protecting U.S. forces and allies in the Middle East.