AJC Applauds Senate Passage of Bill Countering Iran’s Destabilizing Activities

AJC, the global Jewish advocacy organization, praised the U.S. Senate for adopting the Countering Iran’s Destabilizing Activities Act, and urged prompt action by the House and the administration to ensure that this important bill becomes law.

“In the aftermath of the Iran nuclear deal, AJC has continued to raise concerns about Iran’s threatening behavior with our own and other governments,” said Jason Isaacson, AJC Associate Executive Director for Policy. “Iran’s ballistic missile program, the regime’s support for international terrorism, and its blatant and egregious human rights violations should not be ignored. This bill demonstrates to the Iranian regime that they will not be tolerated.”

AJC, which has sounded the alarm on the Iranian threat for decades, continues to lead advocacy efforts to keep pressure on the Iranian regime. AJC supported the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act, which became law in December 2015, and is working to have the EU designate Hezbollah, the Iranian proxy, a terrorist organization in its totality. AJC also strongly advocated for the Iran Sanctions Extension Act, which became law in December 2016.

The Senate bill, introduced by Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee Bob Corker and a bipartisan group of senators, imposes sanctions on those who support Iran’s ballistic missile program, acts of international terrorism, and violations of human rights. Sanctions imposed are not related to Iran’s nuclear program, and would therefore not violate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to which Iran, the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the U.S.), and the EU agreed on July 14, 2015.

“Iran's pursuit of advanced weaponry, its support for international terror groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas, its efforts to subvert and attack its neighbors, and its collusion with the murderous Assad regime in Syria jeopardize global peace and security,” said Isaacson. “Today, the Senate has sent an important and long overdue message to the Iranian regime.”