Reps. Ros-Lehtinen and Poe Introduce Bill Imposing Sanctions on Iran

U.S. Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Ted Poe

Reps. Ros-Lehtinen and Poe Introduce Bill Imposing Sanctions Against Iran for its Destabilizing Activity in Yemen, Violations of UN Security Council Resolutions

Washington, DC, Dec 8, 2017-U.S. Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, and Ted Poe (R-TX), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, introduced H.R. 4603 – the Houthis and Iran Sanctions Accountability Act of 2017. The bill codifies Executive Order 13611, issued on May 16, 2012, by President Obama, declaring a national emergency to deal with the threat on Yemen’s peace, security and stability. The bill targets Iran’s support for the Houthi rebel group in Yemen, as well as those who the President determines knowingly provides significant financial, material, or technological support to those who are in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2216. Reps. Ros-Lehtinen and Poe were joined in introducing the bill by Reps. Steve Chabot (R-OH), Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Dan Donovan (R-NY).

Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

“Iran’s increasing support for the Houthi rebels has cast an even greater doubt over the possibility of a political solution to the conflict in Yemen. We know that the IRGC has transferred increasingly sophisticated weapons systems to the Houthis, which have been used against Saudi Arabia and even American naval vessels. And now with Hezbollah playing an increasing role in Yemen, we very likely could see this conflict mirror the one in Syria, with disastrous consequences for the region and for U.S. national security interests. That is why it is important that the U.S. hold Iran accountable for its repeated violations of UN Security Council Resolution 2216 and for its increasing support for the Houthi rebels.”

Statement by Poe:

“The chaos that Yemen has devolved into is yet another example of Iran’s destructive influence in the Middle East,” said Rep. Poe. “The Houthi rebels are financially, militarily, and logistically supported by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – the same nefarious arm of the Iranian regime that has long been fueling the fire of sectarian and civil discord throughout the region. The Iranians need to be held accountable for the mess and war they are perpetuating in Yemen. This bill will send a clear message to Tehran to stop their activities or pay the price.  And that’s just the way it is.”