Iran Sanctions Could Become Permanent: New Bill Aims to Remove Expiration Date from 1996 Act

A piece of legislation called the "Solidify Iran Sanctions Act of 2025" is on the table, and its main goal is straightforward: to make existing U.S. sanctions against Iran permanent. It proposes to do this by getting rid of the expiration date, or 'sunset clause,' currently attached to the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996. This means measures targeting Iran's weapons programs, missile development, and support for terrorism would no longer be up for periodic renewal but would become an indefinite fixture of U.S. policy.

No More Expiration Dates: What's Actually Changing?

The core of this bill, outlined in Section 4, is the repeal of the sunset provision in the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996. Think of it like this: that original 1996 law, which targets investments in Iran's petroleum sector and aims to curb its access to funds for controversial activities, was designed with an end date, allowing policymakers to regularly review and decide whether to continue it. This new bill says, 'Let's remove that end date entirely.' The existing sanctions, which cover Iran's pursuit of what the bill calls 'illicit weapons programs,' development of conventional weapons and ballistic missiles, and its backing of terrorist groups, would effectively be set in stone as U.S. law.

The 'Why': Justifying a Long-Term Stance

So, why the push for permanence? The bill lays out its reasoning in Section 2, its 'Findings.' It states that Congress views Iran as continuing to engage in destabilizing actions, such as acquiring weapons from what it terms 'malicious entities' like Russia, and providing arms and money to terrorist proxies in the Middle East, thereby endangering U.S. allies. Section 3, the 'Statement of Policy,' reinforces this by declaring the U.S. will fully implement and enforce the 1996 sanctions act. Essentially, the bill argues that because these issues persist, the U.S. response should be equally persistent.

Permanent Sanctions: Steady Pressure or Stuck Policy?

Making these sanctions permanent has some clear implications. On one hand, it signals a long-term, unwavering U.S. commitment to countering Iran's cited activities, which could provide consistency for U.S. foreign policy and reassure allies concerned about Iran. However, removing the sunset clause, as highlighted in the bill's Section 4, also takes away a natural opportunity for future policymakers to reassess the sanctions. Without a mandated review date, the policy might become less adaptable to changing geopolitical situations or diplomatic openings. This could limit future presidents' flexibility in negotiating with Iran or offering incentives for behavioral changes. For international businesses and entities, permanent sanctions could mean navigating a more fixed and potentially challenging landscape if they interact with Iran, as they could be subject to U.S. secondary sanctions. The primary impact, of course, would be on entities within Iran targeted by these long-standing economic pressures.