Duval Times

This year, both the Mahsa Amini Human Rights and Security Accountability Act (MAHSA) and the Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum Act (SHIP) were successfully signed into law (P.L. 118-50). However, the Biden-Harris Administration has failed to meet the deadlines to enforce the law and sanction the corresponding entities. There is currently no indication that the Biden-Harris Administration will fully implement the law. Instead, the administration appears set on appeasing the Iranian regime.

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and colleagues sent a letter to President Joe Biden regarding his administration’s failure to enforce the law.

“We urge you to follow the law and promptly make sanctions determinations, impose appropriate sanctions, and report to Congress what determinations have been made and which sanctions have been imposed. No amount of appeasement to the Iranian regime will quell its unacceptable conduct. Only by exerting maximum pressure on members of the Iranian regime and connected individuals can we hope to stem this behavior.” Joining Rubio were Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), as well as U.S. Representatives Jim Banks (R-IN) and Mike Lawler (R-NY).

The full text of the letter is below.

Dear Mr. President:

As the key sponsors and supporters of the Mahsa Amini Human Rights and Security Accountability (MAHSA) and Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum (SHIP) Acts, both of which were signed into law (Public Law 118-50), we write to urge your administration to swiftly implement these provisions. The regime in Tehran has long channeled proceeds from its petroleum industry to fund its ongoing repression of the Iranian people and fund a campaign of terrorism against the United States, Israel, and other allies in the Middle East. We are concerned by your administration's failure to submit its plan on implementing these sanctions by stipulated deadlines.

The MAHSA Act requires you to determine, by July 23, 2024, whether Iran's Supreme Leader and President, as well as any related entity or individual, meet criteria for imposing sanctions under various laws including Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, Divestment Act. The SHIP Act requires U.S Department of State by August 22, 2024 develop strategy counter PRC’s evasion U.S sanctions on Iranian oil. To date we not received any indication that your administration followed through these requirements.

We urge you immediately follow through legal commitments while your administration dithers Iran’s assault freedom human rights Middle East continues unabated late August media reports indicated Iranian exports PRC reached six-year high more than 1.75 million barrels oil day nearly 50 percent higher than July 2024 bringing approximately $4 billion revenue regime August alone month after election supposedly “moderate” Masoud Pezeshkian President Iranian authorities executed 87 people continues regime’s draconian response “Women Life Freedom” protests sparked execution 22-year-old Mahsa Amini Iran’s morality police Moreover stated own Department Justice “Iran utilizes proceeds black-market oil sales fund criminal activities including support Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Hamas Hizballah other Iranian aligned terrorist groups.” Hamas’ recent execution Israeli American hostages Hizballah’s attempted rocket attack Israeli civilian population centers Iran-aligned militias’ attacks American service members Iraq all enabled your administration’s failure close off sources financing underpin all Iran’s terrorist activities

We urge you follow law promptly make sanctions determinations impose appropriate sanctions report Congress what determinations made which sanctions imposed No amount appeasement Iranian regime quell unacceptable conduct Only exerting maximum pressure members Iranian regime connected individuals hope stem behavior

Sincerely,