Despite signing a deal with Iran to curb its nuclear weapons program,President Obama isn’t ready to lift the national emergency against the Islamic Republic.
Obama informed Congress on Thursday that he was extending the Iranian national emergency first established Nov. 14, 1979, after rebelling students stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 hostages and starting a 444-day standoff with Washington.
“Our relations with Iran have not yet returned to normal, and the process of implementing the agreements with Iran, dated Jan. 19, 1981, is still under way,” Obama wrote in a letter to lawmakers informing him of his decision. “For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency … with respect to Iran.”
TEXT OF A LETTER FROM PRESIDENT OBAMA TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
November 3, 2016
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency with respect to Iran that was declared in Executive Order 12170 of November 14, 1979, is to continue in effect beyond November 14, 2016.
Our relations with Iran have not yet returned to normal, and the process of implementing the agreements with Iran, dated January 19, 1981, is still under way. For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12170 with respect to Iran.
Sincerely, BARACK OBAMA
Source: Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2016
