Lankford Works to Counter Iranian Terrorism and Stop Its Partnership with Russia

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) introduced two bills today countering Iran’s global aggression. The Deterring Iranian Support for Russia in Ukraine and Pre-empting Terrorism (DISRUPT) Act puts pressure on Iran for their military partnership with Russia, and the Sanctioning Transfers and Outbound Products to (STOP) Iran Act will prevent American products from enabling Iranian terrorism.

“Iran poses a direct threat to the United States and our allies,” said Lankford. “The Biden Administration must act to disrupt Iran’s partnership with Russia and stop the use of American-made products in Iranian drones. The DISRUPT Act and the STOP Iran Act are critical to countering Iran and demonstrating to our adversaries that we will not enable them any further.”

Lankford has been a leader in shaping US policy towards Iran. Last Congress, he introduced the Iran Sanctions Preservation Act, which aggressively targets Iran’s oil industry and financial sector. He led a successful motion last year to block the Biden Administration from re-entering the Iran Nuclear Deal. Lankford along with Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jim Risch (R-ID), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced a bipartisan resolution reaffirming the United States’ support for the Iranian citizens who have taken to the streets in peaceful protest and condemning Iranian security forces for human rights abuses. 

Lankford is a co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Abraham Accords Caucus, and he recently returned from a historic bipartisan delegation visit to Abraham Accords countries where America’s partners abroad raised the alarm on Iranian aggression.

BACKGROUND:

·      DISRUPT Act: Deterring Iranian Support for Russia in Ukraine and Pre-empting Terrorism Act

o   This bill sanctions Iranian entities that provide military support for Russia’s invasion into Ukraine.

o   It prevents the President of the United States from lifting any sanctions on Iranian entities unless Iran ends its support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  

·      STOP Iran Act – Sanctioning Transfers and Outbound Products to Iran Act

o   This bill requires the Department of Commerce to issue export controls against Iranian entities that support terrorist activities.

o   It prevents American-made products and components – including semi-conductors – from being used to support Iranian terrorism.