Today, Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) joined Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA-30), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23), Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24), and Young Kim (R-CA-40) in sending a letter calling on the State Department to use all available tools at its disposal to enforce sanctions against Iran, particularly as it pertains to Iranian exports of oil to China.
“Due to its history of malign actions in the region and beyond, Iran currently faces a range of sanctions that include the blocking of Iranian assets in the United States, the banning of almost all U.S. trade with Iran, and the prohibition of U.S. foreign assistance and arms sales to Iran. Additionally, U.S. law authorizes sanctions targeting Iran’s energy sector, including foreign corporations that buy, sell, or transport Iranian oil,” wrote the lawmakers.
“But without full implementation and enforcement of U.S. sanctions authority, oil sales will continue to be Iran’s primary source of revenue. Iran currently has an oil output of 3.2 million barrels per day—the highest production rate since 2018—and it is exporting about 1.5 million barrels per day to 17 countries. Recently, Iran has sent small shipments of oil to Syria, Bangladesh, and Oman. However, Iran is suspected of selling most of its crude oil to China, which does not recognize U.S. sanctions against Iran. In the first quarter of 2024, ‘almost all’ of Iran’s petroleum exports went to China,” the lawmakers continued.
“We urgently ask that you prioritize the U.S. Government’s efforts to identify the means by which Iran is able to export its petroleum products and then use all available tools against individuals and companies engaged in those activities. Existing sanctions must be more effectively enforced in order to promptly secure an end to Iran’s ability to circumvent these trade restrictions. Otherwise, Iran will continue to use its oil revenues to provide material support to its terrorist proxies, such as Hamas, Hizballah, and the Houthis,” concluded the lawmakers.
In the letter, the lawmakers point to new sanctions authorities: the Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Act and the Iran-China Energy Sanctions Act established in a bipartisan supplemental national security package passed in April. The SHIP Act sanctions target ports and refineries that process illicit Iranian oil while the Iran-China Energy Sanctions Act targets Chinese financial institutions that process transactions involving Iranian oil.
Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of the 118th Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.
