Companies that conduct business with Iran are “accomplices” to the leading state-sponsor of terrorism and might face the wrath of Congress, a veteran House Republican warned Friday.
“I will do everything in my power to prevent Iran from obtaining additional means, financial or otherwise, to bolster its support for terrorism. Congress won’t allow companies to receive foreign tax credits for levies paid to the Islamic Republic,” Rep. Peter Roskam, chairman of the House Ways and Means Oversight subcommittee, wrote in The Wall Street Journal.
“Firms that enable Iranian terror may be hard-pressed to renew contracts with the Defense Department or other government agencies,” he continued.
Iran agreed to the recent nuclear deal negotiated by President Obama’s team in order to help its economy, which was struggling under the weight of international sanctions. Roskam’s warning is a clear attempt to limit the benefits Iran receives from that agreement, even as the Obama administration mulls other economic gestures to carry out “the spirit” of the Iran deal.
Treasury Department officials might allow Iranian businesses to use the U.S. dollar in their dealings with foreign businesses, a reported plan that had already drawn criticism from House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and some rank-and-file congressional Democrats.
Still, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew hinted Wednesday that the administration may be looking for other ways to ease back on sanctions. “Since Iran has kept its end of the deal, it is our responsibility to uphold ours, in both letter and spirit,” Lew said.
White House officials have also said they don’t believe Iran violated the deal by testing ballistic missiles that may be designed to carry nuclear weapons. “We do believe they are complying,” Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes said Thursday. “This is a nuclear deal.”
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., issued a biting statement in opposition to granting Iran access to the dollar. “I want to make clear my concerns that the administration had indicated that there would be no further concessions beyond those specifically negotiated and briefed to Congress,” the second-ranked House Democrat said. “I do not support granting Iran any new relief without a corresponding concession.”
Roskam’s pressure on Western companies seems similarly designed to retain leverage over Iran by keeping its economy on the rocks. “If you wouldn’t do business with the Islamic State, you shouldn’t do business with the Islamic Republic,” Roskam wrote. “My colleagues and I will use all the tools at our disposal to name and shame the individuals and businesses that pursue short-term profit at the expense of innocent lives.”
