Eye on Iran: Lawmakers, Activists Pounce on Companies Flirting with Iran

Join UANI               Top Stories Politico: "These and dozens of other letters, shared with POLITICO by UANI, provide a glimpse into the ongoing struggle over the fate of the Iran nuclear deal, which was reached a year ago Thursday and opened a narrow path for companies seeking to do business in a country long isolated by international sanctions. UANI and other opponents of the deal are urging companies to think twice before investing in the Iranian market... United Against Nuclear Iran, a group founded in 2008, has aggressively tried to influence companies navigating the changed legal landscape. UANI insists it is not trying to derail the nuclear deal, but simply wants to correct misperceptions among firms who may believe that Iran - an enticing market with a youthful, well-educated population - is open for business with no strings attached. 'We wanted to professionally and thoroughly spread the word ... of the enormous risk still associated with Iran,' said Mark Wallace, UANI's chief executive officer. The ultimate goal is to get Iran to change its behavior on fronts beyond just its nuclear program, and that won't happen without continued economic pressure on the country, Wallace added. 'We're rooting for changes in Iran,' he said... UANI's letters are detailed, tailored to the recipient and lengthy - some run 18 pages... Over the past six months UANI has sent at least 200 letters, eliciting a few dozen responses that were shared with POLITICO." http://t.uani.com/29ywhqw WSJ: "Boats from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps maneuvered dangerously close to a U.S. military vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, part of a pattern that the top American general in the region-who was on the ship at the time-said risked grave miscalculation. 'What concerns me is our people don't always have a lot of time to deal with those interactions,' said Gen. Joe Votel, head of U.S. Central Command, as he stood on the bridge of the amphibious ship later in the day. 'It's measured in minutes to really have the opportunity to make the right decision.' The five Iranian boats included four small patrol craft and a larger boat called a Houdong fast-attack craft. At least one of the patrol boats was equipped with a .50 caliber machine gun and what is known as a multiple rail rocket launcher. They came within several hundred yards of the American ship. The series of encounters on Monday took place as the New Orleans sailed in international waters through the strait. Gen. Votel, on a swing through the Middle East this week, voiced concern about how quickly such an encounter could turn lethal for the ship, which was carrying about 700 Marines. In the case of Monday's incident, U.S. officials didn't consider the Iranian ships to be technically harassing the American warship, but said they came unacceptably close to doing so." http://t.uani.com/29LLdaA WashPost: "Just before leaving on their long summer recess, the House of Representatives will put forward a series of bills imposing new sanctions on Iran- a symbolic effort to shine light on Iran's illicit behavior and alleged violations of the nuclear deal the Obama administration signed one year ago. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) will bring three Iran-related bills to the floor before the House adjourns on July 14, exactly one year after the Iran nuclear agreement was announced. All three are expected to pass with members voting along party lines. There are no plans for the Senate to take them up as of now. The timing also coincides with new reports from the German intelligence services that Iran continues to conduct 'illegal proliferation-sensitive procurement activities' at a 'quantitatively high level.' The main bill, sponsored by McCarthy, would impose new sanctions on Iran and any country that supports its illicit activities in response to Iran's continued development and testing of its ballistic missile program, its support for terrorism and its ongoing violations of human rights. The legislation would require the U.S. government to sanction companies that aid Iran's ballistic missile program and apply terrorism sanctions to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.-Quds Force as well as to companies that aid it, including Iran's Mahan Air. 'The Administration has demonstrated that they do not intend to hold Iran accountable for their dangerous and destabilizing ballistic missile program, global terrorism activities, and atrocious human rights violations that are committed against their own people,' McCarthy told me in a statement. 'We want to penalize the Iranian government for their continued illegal activity.'" http://t.uani.com/29LJ5zV Nuclear & Ballistic Missile Program JPost: "Iran's proliferation activities span eight German states and involve a range of activities to advance its chemical and biological warfare capabilities, as well as its nuclear and missile programs. The vast scale of the Islamic Republic's network to obtain nuclear and missile technology goes beyond what was disclosed in recent German intelligence reports released on Thursday. The Jerusalem Post has examined intelligence data and reports from the 16 German states, which included new information on Iranian chemical and biological weapons programs. Half of Germany's state governments reported in their 2015 intelligence documents attempts by Tehran to secure nuclear-related goods." http://t.uani.com/29FZzHH Free Beacon: "U.S. and Iranian officials confirmed on Monday that the United States had completed a $8.6 million taxpayer-funded purchase of Iranian nuclear materials, a deal undertaken by the Obama administration to keep Iran in compliance with last summer's nuclear agreement. Abbas Araghchi, a top Iranian diplomat and negotiator of the deal, announced on Iranian television that the United States had moved forward with the purchase of 32 tons of heavy water for a price of $8.6 million. That money is said to have been successfully transferred to Iran, according to Persian language reports in the country's state-run media. An Energy Department spokesperson, speaking on background to the Free Beacon, confirmed the purchase. 'I can confirm reports that the DOE Isotope Program has completed the acquisition of 32 metric tons of heavy water from Iran,' the spokesperson said. One U.S. official told the Free Beacon that while the deal is being announced officially now, it was actually concluded in April, when the administration first announced it. 'The heavy water deal was really concluded in April and it just took a few months to make all the necessary arrangements you would expect from such a deal,' the official said. The disclosure could complicate matters on Capitol Hill with lawmakers who have been rebuffed by the administration in their attempts to learn more about the deal, sources said." http://t.uani.com/29BvmsL U.S.-Iran Relations Reuters: "Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Corps on Monday dispatched five military vessels to monitor a U.S. warship hosting one of America's top generals on a day trip through the Strait of Hormuz, coming as close as 500 yards (meters). For Army General Joseph Votel, who oversees all American military forces in the Middle East, the approaches were a safe though worrying reminder of how little time American forces have to decide whether IRGC ships might pose a threat. The five Iranian vessels consisted of four speedboats, three with mounted machine guns, as well as a guided missile patrol ship. 'As you've seen in a relatively compressed space here, there is great opportunity for miscalculations,' Votel, head of the U.S. military's Central Command, told reporters on the bridge of the USS New Orleans, an amphibious dock ship with about 650 Marines aboard. It was also the latest sign that the IRGC appears to be sticking to a familiar posture in the Gulf that predates last year's nuclear accord between Iran and six world powers including the United States... 'That (the nuclear deal) certainly has addressed one very important threat ... but their other activity out here has not changed,' Votel said... Votel said Iran needed to be held accountable for its behavior and scorned its treatment of the U.S. sailors." http://t.uani.com/29LBL7v Politico: "With the one year anniversary of the Iran nuclear deal fast approaching, a bipartisan group of politicians, diplomats, military leaders and academics is calling for even closer relations between the U.S. and the Islamic Republic. In a letter to President Barack Obama shared with POLITICO, more than 75 high-profile signatories praise the controversial nuclear accord and urge the president to bring the U.S. and Iran even closer together. Spearheaded by The Iran Project, a group dedicated to improving U.S.-Iran relations while preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, the letter's signatories include retired Sens. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Carl Levin (D-Mich.), J. Bennett Johnston (D-La.) and Nancy Kassebaum (R-Kan.), as well as former Rep. Lee Hamilton (D-Ind.). The list of signers also includes former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Merrill McPeak and Nobel Prize winners Leon Cooper and Burton Richter... Outlined within the letter is a three-point plan that the signatories write that will create an 'institutional structure' for ongoing communication between the U.S. and Iran. Its suggestions include 'emergency communications capability' between the two governments to avoid misunderstandings and escalation of conflicts, as well as a 'regular and direct bilateral channel' between the U.S. Treasury Department and the Central Bank of Iran to more easily address questions surrounding the relief of sanctions." http://t.uani.com/29BvgRQ Congressional Action Reuters: "U.S. lawmakers this week will consider three Republican-backed measures targeting the Obama administration's nuclear agreement with Iran, which bitterly divides Washington a year after it was announced and could play a role in November's elections. One bill would impose new sanctions on Iran over any sponsorship of terrorism or human rights violations. Another would bar the purchase from Iran of 'heavy water,' a non-radioactive byproduct from making nuclear weapons and nuclear energy. The third would block Iran's access to the U.S. financial system, including the use of the dollar. Republican lawmakers, who control the House of Representatives and Senate and unanimously opposed the nuclear deal announced last July 14, have said the measures are necessary to send Iran a strong message that it will face consequences if it violates international agreements. Many, joined by several Democrats, have been especially concerned by Iran's actions since the deal was officially implemented in January, including its test-firing of ballistic missiles in March. 'It makes sense to do all we can to check this very dangerous Iranian activity,' Republican Representative Ed Royce, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told the Rules Committee, which sets up rules for debate of bills headed to the House floor... The bills are not expected to win enough votes to advance in the Senate, even if they pass the House. And if they did pass the Senate, they would lack enough support to override a veto." http://t.uani.com/29Kusv9 The Hill: "Senate Republicans want to block the Export-Import Bank from being able to provide help to Iran. Sen. Marco Rubio has introduced legislation that would close a 'loophole,' which the Florida Republican argues currently allows the country to get indirect financing from the bank. The Ex-Im Bank, according to the bill, would not be allowed to 'guarantee, insure, or extend... credit' for a transaction that involves anyone financially linked to the Iranian government, a government-created business or 'an operation in Iran.' The legislation-which is backed by GOP Sens. John Cornyn (Texas), Tom Cotton (Ark.) and Ted Cruz (Texas)-could upend a deal for Boeing to sell passenger aircraft to Iran. Rubio said the Boeing sale, and a separate Airbus deal, could help 'further Iran's promotion of terrorism.' 'Taxpayer dollars should not be used to fund Iran's purchase of new aircraft which it will use to ship weapons and troops to brutal regimes and terrorist groups,' he added in a statement. 'Congress should stop this from happening by passing this legislation.' Republicans argue current law allows the bank to provide indirect access to deals that bolster Iran, including the sale of U.S.-made aircraft and equipment." http://t.uani.com/29Kv2Jc Business Risk AFP: "A year ago, a landmark nuclear deal with world powers led jubilant Iranians to dream of an end to isolation and economic hardship, but critics say US obstacles have soured those hopes. Despite many sanctions being lifted, the international banking system is still too nervous to work with Iran. At the same time, President Hassan Rouhani faces criticism for over-hyping the economic benefits of the accord as well as fierce opposition from hardliners who reject closer ties with the West. Many in the Islamic republic and beyond trace the problems back to Washington. 'Iran has done its part. The blockage comes from the Americans -- the Europeans should put more pressure on them,' said a European diplomat in Tehran, speaking on condition of anonymity." http://t.uani.com/29BuuTF Reuters: "Airbus 'disappointed at the time it was taking to get U.S. licenses for Airbus's planned sale of jets to Iran.'" http://t.uani.com/29BsJr8 Sanctions Relief Reuters: "The Iranian central bank, the U.S. Treasury and international banks will meet in London on Tuesday to discuss stalled progress on banks resuming ties with Iran after U.S. sanctions were lifted in January, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said. European banks, some of which have been punished for breaking sanctions imposed on Iran, have shown reluctance to resume trade ties until they get concrete reassurance that they will not be hit again. Asked by a lawmaker in parliament what discussions he was having with the United States on banking sanctions in order to encourage more British businesses to invest in Iran, Hammond said a meeting was due to take place in London. 'There is a meeting happening this afternoon ... between the Iranian Central Bank, the United States Treasury and international banks based in London in an attempt to try to make some progress on this matter,' Hammond said. The meeting follows a visit by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in May where he told Europe's top banks they have nothing to fear from resuming business with Iran as long as they make proper checks on trade partners." http://t.uani.com/29tpDHe Terrorism AFP: "Israel announced Monday it had outlawed a Palestinian group it says acted as a front for Iran-directed militant activities targeting Israelis and the regime of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas. Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman signed the order outlawing Al-Hirak Al-Shababi ('the youth movement') at the recommendation of the Shin Bet internal security agency, a ministry statement read. The decision followed 'significant information indicating that the group is directed by Hezbollah and Iran to carry out attacks against Israelis, and ignite a wave of violence in the West Bank and east Jerusalem at Israel and the Palestinian Authority,' it read. While the group claimed to be a collective of youths seeking to change the situation in the West Bank through civil activity, it was in fact 'a terror group headed by two opponents of the Palestinian Authority', the statement read. The defence ministry named them as Munir Asli, living in Lebanon, and Hilmi Balbisi, living in Jordan. It said they are 'directed and funded by Hezbollah and Iran', which have both transferred 'hundreds of thousands of shekels' over the past two years to fund the group's activities." http://t.uani.com/29tq1Fy Domestic Politics Reuters: "Iran's new oil and gas contract was approved on Tuesday after some amendments by the Resistance Economy Headquarters, a top government economic advisory body, the Fars and Tasnim news agencies reported. The Iran Petroleum Contract (IPC) is a cornerstone of the country's plan to raise crude production through foreign investment. The launch of contracts has been postponed several times as hardline rivals of pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani resisted any deal that could end the buy-back system, dating back more than 20 years, under which foreign firms are banned from booking reserves or taking equity stakes in local companies. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said this month that no new oil and gas contracts will be awarded without necessary reforms. The approval of the contracts by the Resistance Economy Headquarters is important as the advisory body was formed last year to implement Khamenei's economic views... The final draft for the contracts must still be approved by the government." http://t.uani.com/29NG0fv Opinion & Analysis Bret Stephens in WSJ: "What diplomats call the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action-known to the rest of us as the Disastrous Iran Deal-was agreed in Vienna a year ago this week. Now comes a status update, courtesy of our friends at the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz, or BfV. In its fascinating 2015 annual report, published late last month, the German domestic intelligence service reports a 'particularly strong increase' in the number of Salafists, describes the reach of Russian and Chinese espionage efforts in Germany, and notes a growing number of right-wing extremists. Then there's this: 'The illegal proliferation-sensitive procurement activities [by Iran] in Germany registered by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution persisted in 2015 at what is, even by international standards, a quantitatively high level. This holds true in particular with regard to items which can be used in the field of nuclear technology.' The report also notes 'a further increase in the already considerable procurement efforts in connection with Iran's ambitious missile technology program which could among other things potentially serve to deliver nuclear weapons. Against this backdrop it is safe to expect that Iran will continue its intensive procurement activities in Germany using clandestine methods to achieve its objectives.' The BfV report arrived days before Germany arrested a Pakistani national, identified as Syed Mustufa H., accused of spying for Iran. It also corroborates another German intelligence report, this one from the intelligence service of North Rhine-Westphalia, that Iran's nuclear procurement efforts have increased dramatically in recent years, from 48 known attempts in 2010 to 141 in 2015. Seven other German states have reported similar Iranian procurement efforts. This violates Iran's explicit commitment to go through an official 'procurement channel' to purchase nuclear- and missile-related materials... So let's recap. Mr. Obama says Iran is honoring the nuclear deal, but German intelligence tells us Tehran is violating it more aggressively than ever. He promised 'snapback' sanctions in the event of such violations, but the U.S. is operating as Iran's trade-promotion agent. He promised 'unprecedented' inspections, but we're not permitted to inspect sites where uranium was found. He promised an eight-year ban on Iran's testing of ballistic missiles, but Tehran violated that ban immediately and repeatedly with only mild pushback from the West. He promised that the nuclear deal was not about 'normalizing' relations with a rogue regime. But he wants it in the WTO. Is Mr. Obama rationalizing a failed agreement or did he mean to mislead the American public? Either way, truth is catching up with the Iran deal." http://t.uani.com/29yx7nx Matthew Levitt in WINEP: "When the JCPOA was implemented in January, terrorism-related sanctions remained in place against Iran, and U.S. officials promised they would hold Tehran accountable for any such activity despite the lifting of nuclear sanctions. As Secretary of State John Kerry noted on January 21, 'If we catch them funding terrorism, they're going to have a problem with the United States Congress and with other people, obviously.' And yet, in the year since the deal was signed, Iran's threatening behavior has not diminished. In February, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper testified that 'Iran, the foremost state sponsor of terrorism -- continues to exert its influence in regional crises in the Middle East through the International Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), its terrorist partner Lebanese Hezbollah, and proxy groups...Iran and Hezbollah remain a continuing terrorist threat to U.S. interests and partners worldwide.' A month later, CENTCOM chief Gen. Joseph Votel testified that Iran had become 'more aggressive in the days since the agreement.' ... At an April 2015 Washington Institute event held three months before the signing of the JCPOA, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew stated, 'Make no mistake: deal or no deal, we will continue to use all our available tools, including sanctions, to counter Iran's menacing behavior.' A year later, President Obama underscored this pledge to Gulf Cooperation Council partners at a Camp David summit: 'We have to be effective in our defenses and hold Iran to account where it is acting in ways that are contrary to international rules and norms.' Today, however, it is clear that Iran's support for terrorism has only increased since the deal was reached, and officials cannot feign surprise on the matter. In June, for example, senior Treasury official Adam Szubin bluntly concluded, 'As we expected, Iran has not moderated this conduct since the implementation of the JCPOA.' Given Iran's ongoing support for terrorism and regional instability and the administration's repeated insistence that it would hold Tehran's feet to the fire on these very issues, the JCPOA's first anniversary presents Washington with a perfect opportunity to reassess the regime's menacing behavior and take steps to hold it accountable." http://t.uani.com/29FZsMf         Eye on Iran is a periodic news summary from United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) a program of the American Coalition Against Nuclear Iran, Inc., a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Eye on Iran is not intended as a comprehensive media clips summary but rather a selection of media elements with discreet analysis in a PDA friendly format. For more information please email Press@UnitedAgainstNuclearIran.com United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is a non-partisan, broad-based coalition that is united in a commitment to prevent Iran from fulfilling its ambition to become a regional super-power possessing nuclear weapons.  UANI is an issue-based coalition in which each coalition member will have its own interests as well as the collective goal of advancing an Iran free of nuclear weapons.