Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act of 2023
12/15/2023, 4:00 PMSummary of Bill HR 4691
The Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act of 2023, also known as Bill 118 hr 4691, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The main purpose of this bill is to establish a process for reviewing and potentially blocking any sanctions relief that may be granted to Iran.Under this bill, the President would be required to submit to Congress any proposed sanctions relief for Iran. Congress would then have a specified amount of time to review the proposal and potentially block it through a joint resolution. This process is intended to ensure that Congress has a say in any decisions regarding sanctions relief for Iran, particularly in light of concerns about Iran's nuclear program and support for terrorism.
The bill also includes provisions for reporting on Iran's compliance with any agreements related to sanctions relief, as well as requirements for the President to certify that Iran is not supporting terrorism or pursuing nuclear weapons. Additionally, the bill includes measures to ensure that any sanctions relief granted to Iran is not used to fund terrorist activities or destabilize the region. Overall, the Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act of 2023 aims to provide oversight and accountability in the process of granting sanctions relief to Iran, in order to address concerns about Iran's behavior and ensure that any relief granted is not used for nefarious purposes.
Congressional Summary of HR 4691
Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act of 2023
This bill restricts the President's authority to unilaterally undertake certain actions with respect to Iran and increases congressional oversight of those actions.
Specifically, the President must report to Congress before terminating or waiving sanctions related to Iran or taking a licensing action that significantly alters U.S. foreign policy with respect to Iran.
Each report must (1) describe the proposed action and its rationale, and (2) indicate whether or not the action is intended to significantly alter foreign policy concerning Iran. If the intention is to alter that policy, the report must provide additional information about the policy objectives and anticipated effects of the action.
After the President submits a report, the bill provides Congress with a 30-day period to review it; this period is extended to 60 days for reports submitted between July 10 and September 7. During this period, Congress may enact a joint resolution approving or disapproving the action.
During the review period, the President may not take the action unless Congress passes a joint resolution of approval; if Congress enacts a joint resolution of disapproval, the bill prohibits the President from taking the action.
The bill also outlines procedures for the introduction and consideration of these types of joint resolutions.
