International Trade Today is a Warren News publication.

US Commits to Continue Iran Restrictions After UN Sanctions Lapse

U.N. sanctions on Iranian missile-related activities expired Oct. 18, as part of a sunset clause included in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which had lifted certain sanctions against Iran in return for the country placing limits on its nuclear program. The sunset in the nuclear deal “was based on the assumption that Iran would take the necessary steps towards restoring confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear program,” the State Department said. “This has not happened.”

Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article

If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.

The agency added that the U.S. “reaffirms our commitment” to using sanctions, export controls and “every tool at our disposal to counter Iran’s development, procurement, and proliferation of missiles.” The U.S. on Oct. 18 sanctioned a network of people and companies helping Iran facilitate weapons procurement deals (Ref:2310180033]).

Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said the expiration of the U.N. sanctions “will leave Iran free to proliferate its missiles and drones on an even larger scale as it actively fuels conflicts around the world from Israel to Ukraine.” He called on the Senate to vote on his bill, the Fight Crime Act, which would require that the U.S. “ensure sanctions on Iran’s dangerous missile and drone program remain in place.”