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House Overwhelmingly Approves Iran Sanctions Enabling Act

| Wed Oct. 14, 2009 2:46 PM PDT

By a margin of 414-6, the House of Representatives approved the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act, which will allow individual states and local governments to opt out of international investments that fund Iran. For months, the US has been on the verge of reprimanding Iran for developing its nuclear program, an action that many say threatens Israel. The bill's author, Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank, says it ensures "that Americans who are deeply concerned about the prospect of Iranian nuclear power, and other aspects of Iranian governance, that they are able to act on those (concerns)."

In a press release, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) was quick to applaud the vote:

Facing the urgent and time sensitive need to change Iranian behavior or face even more difficult choices, the United States and our allies must exhaust every economic, diplomatic and political tool to pressure and persuade the Iranian government to end its illicit nuclear program as the U.N. Security Council and the International Community have repeatedly demanded.

The bill's overwhelming support indicates that another AIPAC priority, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act, could also sail through when California Rep. Howard Berman re-introduces it later this month. As detailed in Robert Dreyfuss' story about the decline of the hard-line American Israel lobby in the September/October issue of Mother Jones, Berman tabled the bill in order to give President Obama a chance to pursue diplomacy with Iran. But in a Washington Post op-ed last month, Berman said that it was time for the United States to consider placing stricter sanctions on Iran and announced that he would re-introduce the bill.

As speculation about Iran's nuclear program mounts, this wave of sanctions will surely arouse international debate about US/Iranian relations and global nuclear non-proliferation. But first, the Senate must approve the bill.

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Ben Buchwalter is an editorial fellow at Mother Jones. For more of his stories, click here. He's also on Twitter.

Comments

The most dangerous flashpoint

Submitted by Ewiak Ryszard (not verified) on Thu Oct. 15, 2009 11:55 AM PDT.

Iran should not arouse concern. Georgia is the most dangerous flashpoint in Russia's tense relations with the West. The Bible says: "At the appointed time [the king of the north = Russia] will return back [will regain the influence, which it lost after the break-up of the Soviet Union] and come into the south [many indicate that this might be Georgia], but it will not be as the former [1921] or as the latter [2008]. For the dwellers of coastlands of Kittim [the West] will come against him, and he will be humbled, and will return." (Daniel 11:29,30a) Then Iran will be humbled also. "But ships will come from the direction of Kittim, troubling Asshur [Russia] and troubling Eber [inhabiting on the other side the Euphrates]." (Numbers 24:24a, BBE)

At that time, peace will be taken from the earth and the "great sword" - nuclear sword - will be used. (Revelation 6:4) However, it will be neither the great tribulation nor "the end of the world" (Armageddon). As Jesus foretold, that will be "the beginning of birth pains". (Mathew 24:7,8)

If the Heavens planned a full return of Russia (and much suggests this) the present economic crisis will deepen. Then also the European Union and NATO will not stands.

In the same way the earlier prophecy had fulfilled: "And (he) [the king of the north = Russia] will go back (to) his land with great wealth [1945]; and his heart (will be) against the holy covenant [state atheism]; and will act effectively; and turned back to his own land [the break-up of the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact, the return of Russian troops to country]." (Daniel 11:28)