UPI, Washington, June 25, 2010 — Measures passed by U.S. lawmakers targeting the Iranian energy and financial sectors are the strongest ever, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.
The U.S. Senate by a unanimous vote passed new legislation targeting Iran. The House of Representatives, for its part, passed the joint resolution by a vote of 408-8 with one member voting present.
The bill bars international companies doing business with designated Iranian banks from the U.S. financial system. The measure also targets investors who continue to invest in the Iranian energy sector or who export refined petroleum products to Iran.
Pelosi, a Democrat from California, said she was proud of the overwhelming support for the joint House-Senate sanctions act.
’This is the strongest Iran sanctions legislation ever passed by the Congress,’ she added.
Sen. Joe Lieberman, Ind-Conn., who helped introduce the bill in 2009, said the impact on Iran would be crippling.
’Ultimately, we must do whatever is necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability, through peaceful and diplomatic means if we possibly can, but through military force if we absolutely must,’ he warned in a statement.
Tehran has said it views any new sanctions as an opportunity to become more energy self-sufficient.
The White House must sign or veto the measure before the July 4 holiday.