Trump Says He Will Sign New Iran/Russia Sanctions Into Law
Official portrait of President Donald J. Trump. Image by White House
WASHINGTON (JTA) — President Trump said he would sign into law a new sanctions package that includes sanctions targeting Iran.
Trump’s statement came late Friday evening, a day after the Senate had passed the sanctions bill targeting Russia, North Korea and Iran in a 98-2 vote.
“President Donald J. Trump read early drafts of the bill and negotiated regarding critical elements of it,” said a statement issued by the White House. “He has now reviewed the final version and, based on its responsiveness to his negotiations, approves the bill and intends to sign it.”
The bill’s Iran component ramps up sanctions for that country’s missile testing, human rights abuses and backing of terrorism, and further restricts the president’s ability to waive the sanctions.
Trump reportedly was unhappy with the bill because of its Russia component; he favors increased sanctions on Iran and did not express opposition to those elements of the bill.
However, with the overwhelming passage of the bill in the Senate and House of Representatives earlier in the week, Trump’s ability to veto the bill was effectively nullified.
The American Israel Public Relations Committee had lobbied for the sanctions.
Separately on July 28, the Trump administration sanctioned six Iranian entities after Iran tested a space launching device. “Space launch vehicles use technologies that are closely related to those of an intercontinental ballistic missile and this launch represents a threatening step by Iran,” said the statement by the U.S. Treasury.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we need 500 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Our Goal: 500 gifts during our Passover Pledge Drive!
