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House Votes for New Tough Sanctions Against Iran
(Los Angeles Times) Paul Richter - The U.S. House of Representatives voted 400-20 Wednesday to hit Iran with the toughest sanctions yet over its nuclear program, in a forceful rejection of arguments that Congress should refrain from new penalties pending international negotiations with the new Iranian government. The new bill would basically block Iran from selling any oil abroad, after a year in which its exports have already been cut in half by international sanctions. Lawmakers said they wanted to send Tehran a strong signal before the negotiations, and didn't believe statements by Iran's president-elect, Hassan Rowhani, that he wants a better relationship with the West. Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said: "Today the House took a critical step toward crippling this regime to prevent a nuclear Iran and dire security consequences....Iran may have a new president, but its march toward a nuclear program continues."