| (WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented today on Iran’s threat to U.S. security and interests in the Western Hemisphere as the Committee passed H.R. 2194, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:
“As the world focuses on Iran’s nuclear program, we must not forget that the Iranian threat extends far beyond the Middle East and into the Western Hemisphere and covers more than just its nuclear ambitions.
"We cannot sit idly by as Iran establishes its extremist network right across our borders. I urge quick House and Senate passage of the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act so that we can send it to the President’s desk before the end of the year.
“The 1994 AMIA bombing in Argentina is a tragic reminder of the long reach of Iran’s lethal tentacles.
“Iran is expanding its ties with the likes of Venezuela’s Chavez and the FARC guerillas in Colombia, and using its embassies, government officials, quasi-government entities, and proxies such as Hezbollah to further extend its influence and operations in Latin America.
“I am pleased that the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act, which was passed by the Foreign Affairs Committee this morning, seeks to address Iran’s activities in the Western Hemisphere. This important bill strengthens sanctions to prevent the sale of refined petroleum products to the Iranian regime – with a particular eye to oil flowing from Venezuela to Iran.
“Let us act now to prevent a further escalation of the Iranian threat.”
Note: Ros-Lehtinen is the lead Republican co-sponsor of H.R. 2194, which enjoys the support of over 300 bipartisan co-sponsors. Ros-Lehtinen is also the author of the Iran Threat Reduction Act (H.R. 1208), which would mandate a more comprehensive set of sanctions targeting the Iranian regime.
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