Iran Nuclear Watch: President Bush Signs H.R. 6198 Iran Freedom Support Act

A general view shows the Bushehr nuclear power plant in the Iranian Persian Gulf port of Bushehr, 1,200 Kms south of Tehran, in June 2006. US President George W. Bush signed into law a new set of sanctions targeting foreign countries that continue nuclear cooperation with Iran and sell it advanced weaponry.

Forbes: President Signs Iran Sanctions Bill

President Bush on Saturday signed legislation that would impose mandatory sanctions on entities that provide goods or services for Iran’s weapons programs.

The Senate passed the bill with no debate Saturday, two days after the House approved the measure following a debate over the wisdom of toughening unilateral sanctions on Tehran at the same time the United States was trying to work with its U.N. partners on a multinational approach to Iran’s nuclear threat.

The measure sanctions any entity that contributes to Iran’s ability to acquire chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.

In a statement, Bush said, “This legislation will codify U.S. sanctions on Iran while providing my administration with flexibility to tailor those sanctions in appropriate circumstances and impose sanctions upon entities that aid the Iranian regime’s development of nuclear weapons.”

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said in a statement that the action “strengthened one of our most important tools in the fight to keep nuclear weapons out of the mullahs’ hands.”

He said it would encourage the administration to use all available leverage over Russia, a partner in Iranian energy projects, to gain Russian support for multilateral sanctions against Iran.

Russia and China cannot have it both ways with regards to the Iranian nuclear porgram. If they wish to do nothing then the United States WILL sanction Iran and them.

The text of the new law: Iran Freedom Support Act is here.

Now, on to the United Nations Security Council.

Did Iran REALLY think there would be no sanctions from the United States?

Probably……..

Stay tuned……