Mandates the President to determine and report to Congress within 90 days whether sanctions should be applied to the Iran Airports Company for its role in supporting Mahan Air's operations, which facilitate Iranian government's destabilizing actions.
Cory Mills
Representative
FL-7
The Reinforcing Sanctions on Iranian Terrorists Act requires the President to determine whether to apply sanctions to the Iran Airports Company, which facilitates Mahan Air's operations, due to Mahan Air's support for terrorist activities and the Iranian government's destabilizing actions. This determination must be submitted to Congress within 90 days of the Act's enactment. The Act reinforces existing sanctions against Mahan Air, which has been identified as supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps-Qods Force.
New Bill Targets Iranian Airline Mahan Air, Could Sanction Iran's Entire Airport System
The "Reinforcing Sanctions on Iranian Terrorists Act" zeroes in on Mahan Air, an Iranian airline that's been on the U.S. sanctions list since 2011 for allegedly moving weapons and personnel for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (which the U.S. considers a terrorist organization). This new bill, however, goes a step further.
Taking Off: What the Bill Actually Does
This bill isn't just about Mahan Air anymore. It's now forcing the President to decide whether to slap sanctions on the entire Iran Airports Company (IAC) – the state-owned entity that runs Iran's civilian airports. The deadline? 90 days from the bill's enactment. The justification, according to the bill (SEC. 2(a)), is that since IAC facilitates Mahan Air's operations, and Mahan Air is accused of supporting terrorism, then IAC might be guilty by association, and thus sanctionable under Executive Order 13224.
Ripple Effect: Who Could Feel the Pinch?
If the President decides to sanction IAC, it could have a much wider impact than just grounding Mahan Air. Think about it: every international flight that lands in or takes off from Iran uses facilities managed by IAC. This could include commercial passenger flights and cargo shipments. The bill states (SEC. 2(b)) that the President's decision must be unclassified (though it can have a classified part), so the reasoning will be public, at least in part.
Grounded in Reality: Potential Challenges
While the bill aims to tighten the screws on Iran's alleged support for terrorism, it could also create some serious turbulence. Here are a few potential issues:
- Broad Brush: The bill relies heavily on Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists and their supporters. The definition of "support" can be pretty broad, potentially roping in companies or individuals with only a tenuous connection to Mahan Air or IAC.
- Civilian Impact: Sanctioning IAC could impact regular folks – Iranian citizens, business travelers, and even international aid organizations – who rely on air travel. This could have unintended humanitarian consequences.
- Escalation: This move could be seen as a significant escalation by Iran, potentially leading to further tensions in an already volatile region. It could complicate international relations and impact businesses that have dealings with Iran, even those unrelated to aviation.
This bill is essentially putting the entire Iranian airport system under the microscope. While the stated goal is to combat terrorism, the potential ripple effects are wide-ranging and could impact far more than just the intended target.