US lawmakers move to toughen Iran curbs

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A gro-up of US representatives pushed Monday to toughen a 1996 law aimed at punishing companies that invest in Irans energy sector, seeking to pressure Tehran over its suspect nuclear program.
The nine lawmakers, led by Republican Mark Kirk and Democrat Ron Klein, announced the move after The New York Times reported late Saturday that Washington has awarded more than 107 billion dollars in payments to foreign and US companies doing business in Iran despite US sanctions.
That sum included nearly 15 billion dollars paid to companies that defied US sanctions law by making large investments that helped Iran develop its vast oil and gas reserves, said the paper.
The US government should be enforcing the Iran Sanctions Act, not rewarding firms that violate it, said Kirk.
Kirk and Kleins bill would toughen the 1996 Iran Sanctions Act (ISA), requiring President Barack Obamas administration to investigate potential violators of the act and notify Congress of known offenders.
The 1996 law authorizes sanctions against non-US companies that invest more than $20m in Irans oil and gas sectors.
In a letter to fellow lawmakers last week, Kirk and Klein noted that while the original ISA was intended to deter investment in Irans energy sector, no entity has ever be-en held accountable under the Act.
The Iran Sanctions Enhancement Act would require the Government Accountability Office the investigative arm of Congress to publish a list of potential violators every month.
It calls for the president to conduct an immediate investigation based on that information and report back to the US Congress.
US lawmakers have stepped up calls on Obama to impose sanctions on Iran, as well as companies that do business with Tehran, in response to the Islamic Republics refusal to freeze its suspect nuclear drive.
Tehran denies Western charges that its atomic program hides an effort to develop nuclear weapons and has rebuffed UN demands that it halt uranium enrichment, which can be a key step towards building an atomic arsenal.
Our legislation will put an end to mixed signals and bring the economic pressure necessary to allow diplomacy to succeed, said Kirk.
Meanwhile, the US Treasury Department eased sanctions on Cuba, Iran and Sudan on Monday to allow exports of Internet communications services such as instant messaging, email and social networks.
The Treasury Department said the move was intended to ensure that individuals in these countries can exercise their universal right to free speech and information to the greatest extent possible.
Lifting the ban on exports of software and services will make it easier for individuals in Iran, Sudan and Cuba to use the Internet to communicate with each other and with the outside world, Deputy Treasury Secretary Neal Wolin said in a statement.
Todays action will enable Iranian, Sudanese and Cuban citizens to exercise their most basic rights, Wolin said.
The Treasury Department said exports would be allowed of services related to Web browsing, blogging, email, instant messaging, chat, social networking and photo- and movie-sharing.
As recent events in Iran have shown, personal Internet-based communications like email, instant messaging and social networking are powerful tools, Wolin said. This software will foster and support the free flow of information a basic human right for all Iranians.
At the same time as we take these steps, the administration will continue aggressively to enforce existing sanctions and to work with our international partners to increase the pressure on the government of Iran to meet its international obligations, Wolin added.
Opposition supporters in Iran used social networking sites and services such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube in their communications efforts following the countrys disputed presidential election.