1
The Iran Sanctions Act: Update
Publication Date: 2007/01/25
Publication / Source: Congressional Research Service
Author: Kenneth Katzman
ILSA was introduced in the context of a tightening of U.S. sanctions on Iran during
the first term of the Clinton Administration. In response to Iran’s stepped up nuclear
program and its support to terrorist organizations (Hizbollah, Hamas, and Palestine
Islamic Jihad), President Clinton issued Executive Order 12957 (March 15, 1995), which banned U.S. investment in Iran’s energy sector, and Executive Order 12959 (May 6,
1995), which banned U.S. trade with and investment in that country.
2
Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses
Publication Date: 2005/06/27
Publication / Source: Congressional Research Service
The Bush Administration has pursued several avenues to attempt to contain or
end the potential threat posed by Iran, at times pursuing limited engagement, and at
other times leaning toward pursuing efforts to change Iran’s regime. Some experts
believe a potential crisis is looming over Iran’s nuclear program because the Bush
Administration is skeptical that efforts by several European allies to prevent a nuclear
breakout by Iran will succeed, although the Administration announced steps in March
2005 to support those talks. U.S. concerns have been heightened by the victory of
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, an admitted hardliner, in Iran’s presidential election on June
24, 2005. Some advocate military action against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, but
others believe that a combination of diplomatic and economic rewards and
punishment are the only viable options on the nuclear issue. U.S. sanctions currently
in effect ban or strictly limit U.S. trade, aid, and investment in Iran and penalize
foreign firms that invest in Iran’s energy sector, but unilateral U.S. sanctions do not
appear to have materially slowed Iran’s WMD programs to date.