A new Iran sanctions bill

Reps. Ron Klein (D-Fla.) and John Mica (R-Fla.) have introduced new legislation to crack down on Iran.

The Accountability for Business Choices in Iran Act (ABC Iran Act) will require any private company doing business with the U.S. government to certify that they do not conduct business with Iran. If a company provides false certification, they would then be prohibited from further conducting business with the U.S. government. The ABC Iran Act also requires any company receiving taxpayer funds, such as stimulus and TARP fundings, to make the same certification.

“It is time for companies to make a choice: either do business with the U.S. government or do business with Iran,” Klein said. “International firms conducting business in Iran cannot continue to provide the last crutch of support to the Iranian economy. Their financial support of the regime and their dangerous foreign policy goals sends entirely the wrong message. Iran must not get a nuclear weapon — not on our watch and certainly not on our dime.”

The full press release from Klein is after the jump:[[READMORE]]

Congressmen Ron Klein (D-Boca Raton) and John Mica (R-Winter Park) today introduced tough new legislation to crack down on the current regime in Iran. Their bill, the Accountability for Business Choices in Iran Act (ABC Iran Act) will require any private company doing business with the U.S. government to certify that they do not conduct business with Iran. If a company provides false certification, they would then be prohibited from further conducting business with the U.S. government. 

“It is time for companies to make a choice:  either do business with the U.S. government or do business with Iran,” Klein said. “International firms conducting business in Iran cannot continue to provide the last crutch of support to the Iranian economy. Their financial support of the regime and their dangerous foreign policy goals sends entirely the wrong message. Iran must not get a nuclear weapon—not on our watch and certainly not on our dime.”

“This is not a Democratic or Republican issue,” Klein continued. “Regardless of political party, we can all agree that the threat of a nuclear Iran is not acceptable to the United States or our allies in the Middle East, and that we must take every possible step to prevent that possibility from becoming reality. It was a pleasure to work with my friend and colleague, Congressman Mica, to author this important bill.”

“We cannot sit idly by while companies who profit off of the American taxpayer cavort with nations that stridently agitate against crucial American interests in a volatile region such as the Persian Gulf,” Mica said.  “It is time for companies to pick a side, either stand with those who promote freedom and peace, or fall with the outlaws who promote religious tyranny.”

The ABC Iran act is based on similar efforts to prevent U.S. government contractors from doing business with Sudan.  The Sudan legislation passed the House with a unanimous vote and was signed into law in 2007.  United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) worked closely with Congressmen Klein and Mica on developing this bill and bringing it to today’s introduction.

In addition to requiring companies that enter into contracts with the federal government to certify that they do not conduct business with Iran, the ABC Iran Act also requires any company receiving taxpayer funds, such as stimulus funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act or bank bailout funding under TARP or other programs, to make the same certification.