US Senate Advances More Illegal Sanctions on Iran
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June 11, 2017 at
US Senate Advances More Illegal Sanctions on Iran
by Stephen Lendman
In late May, Senate Foreign Relations Committee members, by an 18 – 3 vote, approved the “Countering Iran’s Destabilization Activities Act of 2017 (CIDAA).”
It imposes new illegal sanctions on the Islamic Republic for contrived reasons because legitimate ones don’t exist.
On Wednesday, a Senate procedural vote passed 92- 7, final action likely later this month, House passage certain to follow, Trump then signing it into law.
The measure breaches the letter and spirit of the Iran nuclear deal, more evidence of the futility of expecting Washington to keep its word.
The measure imposes sanctions on individuals involved in Iran’s legitimate ballistic missile program, targets US businesses and individuals aiding it, and the country’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Legislation was introduced days before AIPAC’s March 26 – 28 conference in Washington – so bipartisan Zionist neocons scheduled to speak could rant about being tough on Iran.
US claims about Tehran violating Security Council Resolution 2231, endorsing the JCPOA nuclear deal, were fabricated. Iranian missiles aren’t designed to carry nuclear warheads. No evidence suggest Tehran involvement in terrorism – other than responsibly combating it.
Its legitimate missile testing and development are unrelated to its nonmilitary nuclear program.
Continued US hostility toward Iran aims to isolate and economically harm the nation, along with perhaps provoking military confrontation.
Iran’s parliament Speaker Ali Larijani vowed to deliver a “serious, clear” response to Congress and the Trump administration, wanting new illegal sanctions imposed on the country.
He ordered parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee to “immediately” draw up counter-measures in response to US actions.
They’ll incorporate “resistance on the right path of the revolution and increased convergence” because of hostile action by Washington to “blunt Iran’s instruments of dignity,” adding:
America’s “strategy is to slow down the means of Iran’s dignity and preoccupy its authorities with extraneous issues.”
“We should accept that a line comprising terrorists and the countries backing them, which are being led by the United States and Saudi Arabia, has formed against our people.”
Decades of hardline US policies against Iran failed, hardening its resistance, more proof that America is a pariah state.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
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Stephen Lendman
Stephen Lendman was born in 1934 in Boston, MA. In 1956, he received a BA from Harvard University. Two years of US Army service followed, then an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. After working seven years as a marketing research analyst, he joined the Lendman Group family business in 1967. He remained there until retiring at year end 1999. Writing on major world and national issues began in summer 2005. In early 2007, radio hosting followed. Lendman now hosts the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network three times weekly. Distinguished guests are featured. Listen live or archived. Major world and national issues are discussed. Lendman is a 2008 Project Censored winner and 2011 Mexican Journalists Club international journalism award recipient.