American Jewish Committee Urges Congress to Reject Further Easing of Sanctions Against Iran

American Jewish Committee
Thursday, 8 June 2000

The American Jewish Committee is calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to reject a measure that would further ease sanctions on Iran.

The Fiscal 2001 Agriculture Appropriations Bill (H.R. 4461), expected to come before the House as early as next week, includes the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000, a provision that would lift sanctions on U.S. sales of food and medicine to Iran and other countries on the State Department list of state sponsors of terrorism.

"The effect of the provision would be to grant unearned benefits to Iran before it has changed its offensive behavior internationally and domestically," said Jason F. Isaacson, director of AJC's Office of Government and International Affairs. "Even a favorable vote in one house of Congress would send the wrong signal, particularly when 13 incarcerated Iranian Jews await verdicts in their show trial in Shiraz."

AJC has sent letters to all House members urging them to oppose the trade sanctions provision of the appropriations bill, and AJC chapters across the country are discussing the measure with local congressional offices.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran continues to support international terrorism, opposes the Middle East peace process, is belligerent toward the United States and Israel, maintains aggressive programs to acquire weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them, and oppresses its Jewish community," Mr. Isaacson wrote in the letter.

"Any easing of sanctions on trade with Iran at this time may be misinterpreted by those responsible for shaping Iranian foreign policy as a sign of weakening U.S. resolve against state sponsors of terrorism," he added.

"Further, we fear that 'hard-liners' in control of the Iranian judiciary would read such a step as an indication of American acceptance of the unjust treatment of the incarcerated Iranian Jews."

Iran's drive to acquire threatening weapons is examined in a recent AJC study, Iran and Weapons of Mass Destruction.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org