Mullin Votes to Block President from Lifting Sanctions on Iran

Press Release

Congressman Markwayne Mullin (OK-02) voted on Wednesday to stop President Obama's attempts to lift economic restrictions, or sanctions, on suspected Iranian terrorism supporters.

The United States and other global powers placed sanctions on Iran in 1979 to prevent the country from developing a nuclear weapon. In July 2015, the president agreed to a nuclear deal that would lift those sanctions.

Mullin voted for the Iran Terror Finance Transparency Act (H.R. 3662), which was introduced by Oklahoma U.S. Rep. Steve Russell. The bill stops the president from going around Congress to lift sanctions on Iranian groups or individuals who are suspected of providing financial support to terrorists.

"I have been against the president's nuclear deal with Iran since the beginning -- it is bad for the United States and bad for our allies," said Mullin. "It seems the president has forgotten that Iran has a long history as a state sponsor of terrorism. I will continue to do everything I can to keep Oklahomans and all Americans safe."

The Office of Foreign Asset Control within the U.S. Department of the Treasury maintains and enforces the list of economic and trade sanctions the U.S. holds against foreign countries, groups, and individuals. H.R. 3662 stops the president from removing Iranian individuals and entities from this list unless the administration can certify they do not provide financial support to terrorists, abuse human rights, or aid in the development of weapons of mass destruction.

Russell introduced H.R. 3662 soon after the president announced his deal with Iran.

He said, "We believe the president needs to provide Congress and the American people justification on why a select, identified group of terrorists and human rights violators no longer qualify to be on those lists."

H.R. 3662 passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 191-106. The bill will now move to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

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