House Votes to Extend Iran Sanctions Act

May 5, 2025 TruthUSA

A voice vote sufficed to abolish the sunset clause of the Iran Sanctions Act.

On May 5, the House approved a bill aimed at preserving U.S. sanctions against Iran.

The legislation, proposed by Rep. Ryan McKenzie (R-Pa.), seeks to eliminate the sunset provision of the 1996 Iran Sanctions Act, which permits the U.S. to impose sanctions on Tehran due to its military capabilities, including its ballistic missile initiatives.

It was approved via voice vote, meaning no formal ballot was taken.

McKenzie’s bill emphasizes that Iran “has obtained destabilizing conventional weapons systems from the Russian Federation and other malicious entities, supplying arms and financial aid to its terrorist proxies across the Middle East, endangering U.S. allies, including Israel.”

This measure arises as the Trump administration intensifies its so-called “maximum pressure” strategy on Iran while engaging in negotiations regarding the regime’s nuclear activities.

The campaign features stringent sanctions targeting Iran’s nuclear operations and oil industry.

During an interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” broadcast on May 4, President Donald Trump stated that Iran must not possess a nuclear program.

“Total dismantlement. … Yes, that is the only option I would accept,” he declared when asked if Iran needed to eliminate its nuclear program or simply refrain from developing nuclear weapons.

Trump expressed openness to Iran having a civilian nuclear program for energy purposes.

“My inclination is to inquire, ‘What do you need that for? You have plenty of oil,’” he remarked.

“I think that I would be open to listening, you know?” he added.

Recently, Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that there’s potential for Iran to establish a civilian nuclear energy initiative.

“If Iran desires a peaceful civilian nuclear program, akin to those found in other countries, it’s possible,” he stated on Fox News.

“This entails constructing reactors and importing enriched uranium to power them.”

Iran began enriching uranium independently in 2010 to fuel the Tehran Research Reactor, which the United States supplied in the 1960s for research purposes.

Initially designed for 25 years of operation, the reactor was modified to run on low-enriched uranium with international assistance. When access to low-enriched uranium ceased in the late 2000s, Tehran opted to develop its own highly-enriched uranium for fuel and has since continued down this path.

A report from the U.N. nuclear watchdog released in early 2025 indicated that Iran had ramped up its enriched uranium production to a level that could potentially allow it to create several nuclear warheads if desired.

The bill’s approval followed the launch of a ballistic missile by Iran-backed Houthi terrorists, which struck near Ben Gurion International Airport just outside Tel Aviv.

While there were no fatalities, eight individuals were treated for injuries, according to Israel’s national emergency service, Magen David Adom.

Israel announced it would respond.

“Houthi attacks are directly linked to Iran. Israel will retaliate for the Houthi strike against our primary airport and, at a time and place of our choosing, against their Iranian terror backers,” asserted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement.

Andrew Thornebrooke contributed to this report.

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