"This bill maintains sanctions pressure on the Iranian regime through 2026 to improve its record on human rights and curtail Iran’s acquisition of ballistic missiles, which Iran continues to pursue," Manchin stated.
If approved, the Countering Iranian Threats Act of 2016 would maintain current anti-Iran sanctions until the end of 2026. Additionally, it would block the property of any US person or entity who supplies, sells or transfers arms to or from Iran, and impose mandatory sanctions on Iran’s ballistic missile program.
Moreover, the law would prevent the US president from implementing any agreement that includes sanctions relief without Congressional approval.
US lawmakers have criticized US President Barack Obama for concluding the 2015 Joint Plan of Comprehensive Action nuclear agreement with Iran without explicit congressional approval.
The nuclear deal was implemented in September 2015 after lawmakers failed to block the plan within a 60-day window.