Kirk, Cornyn, Ayotte Bill Blocks Iran from Abusing Administration’s Sanctions Relief

Seeks to Prevent Tehran from Using Sanctions Relief to Promote Terrorism, Develop Deadly Weapons, or Persecute Iranian People

Extension of Nuclear Talks Gives Iran Access to $2.8 Billion in Funds

Fungibility of Money Requires Certification

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), along with Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), introduced the Iran Sanctions Relief Certification Act of 2014, which would require Presidential certification that the funds made available to the Iranian regime under the extension of the P5+1 agreement are not used to:

• Support terrorism
• Build nuclear weapons and ballistic weapons
• Violate human rights.

The extension of nuclear talks allows Iran access to $2.8 billion in blocked funds over the next four months. As Secretary of State John Kerry has previously stated, it would only take two months for the Iranians to complete work on a nuclear weapon.

Senators Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) are also original cosponsors.

“Preventing consideration of the Menendez-Kirk bill has resulted in a failure to irreversibly block development of a nuclear weapon by Iran, in a 4-month extension of talks and in a release of $2.8 billion of revenue,” Senator Kirk said. “Before releasing $2.8 billion to Iran through sanctions relief, the Administration should certify to the American people that the money will not be used to advance terror, build nuclear weapons or violate human rights. How much more time will we allow Iran to develop a nuclear bomb?”

“The last thing America should be doing is playing good cop with Iran and offering the taste of relief to a radical regime. But because the President has decided to do this unilaterally, this important legislation would give Congress greater oversight and ensure Iran is barred from using any relief funds for efforts that pose any danger to America and her allies,” Senator Cornyn said.

“The United States should not provide sanctions relief to Iran until that country verifiably and permanently ends its nuclear weapons program,” said Senator Ayotte. “Based on Iran’s continued support for terrorist groups, development of intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities, and persecution of the Iranian people, we must ensure that any sanctions relief provided by the Administration to Tehran does not support these dangerous and reprehensible Iranian policies.”

The text of the legislation is available here.