This week, the House is expected to vote on a new round of broad, indiscriminate sanctions against Iran. This time, however, there is a special surprise concealed in the bill’s depths: a provision which would restrict contact, both official and unofficial, between US government employees and Iranian officials who “present a threat to the United States” or are affiliated with terrorist organizations.
This provision, if enacted, would undermine present and future US efforts to diplomatically resolve outstanding issues not only over Iran’s nuclear program but also the conflict in Afghanistan. Worst of all, the bill has 358 cosponsors—and many of them don’t even know that they’re supporting such a measure.
Your Representative may unwittingly sabotage the possibility of a diplomatic solution with Iran unless they hear from you! Since a vote is expected within the next few days on this matter, if you can call your Representative, please do. Just follow these simple instructions:
1. Find out whether your Representative is a cosponsor of HR 1905 by checking this list on the FCNL website.
2. Call the congressional switchboard at 1-877-429-0678.
3. Ask for your Representative’s office.
4. When you reach your Representative’s office, tell them your name and address. Then,
5. Tell them to oppose and vote “no” on HR 1905, the “Iran Threat Reduction Act,” which would institute broad, indiscriminate sanctions against Iran and undermine diplomatic efforts to engage Iran over its nuclear program and Afghanistan. Then,
6. If your Representative is a current cosponsor, tell them that a provision was added to the bill in committee mark-up which would expressly prohibit certain contacts between US government officials and Iranian officials. The provision is in section 601(c). Tell them this would greatly undermine diplomatic efforts to resolve issues over Iran’s nuclear program as well as bring about a political solution to the war in Afghanistan.
7. When you’re done, tell us how it went below.