Jefferson Reporter

U.S. Senators Katie Britt and Tim Scott, along with six Republican colleagues, have expressed concerns over the delayed enforcement of sanctions on Iran's oil sector. In a letter addressed to U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, they emphasized the importance of utilizing all available tools to monitor and sanction illicit oil transactions involving Iran.

The senators stated in their letter, "Congress has consistently identified Iran’s oil sector as a critical area for sanctions due to its significant role in financing destabilizing regional terrorism and nuclear development." They further highlighted delays in implementing the SHIP Act and called for increased enforcement efforts.

The letter also mentioned recent actions taken on October 11th and December 3rd regarding Executive Order 13902, noting these as positive steps but urging for continued rigorous enforcement. The senators pointed out that lax enforcement has allowed nations, particularly in Southeast Asia, to ignore U.S. sanctions by facilitating Iranian crude sales to China.

They cited trade data showing Malaysia exporting more oil to China than its production capacity suggests, indicating involvement in Iranian oil trade. The senators urged the Treasury Department to address these issues by deploying all available enforcement tools.

Senators Mike Crapo, Mike Rounds, Thom Tillis, Bill Hagerty, Kevin Cramer, and Steve Daines joined Britt and Scott in signing the letter. This move follows previous requests from Senators Britt and Scott for information on the administration's strategy towards Iran.

Senator Britt has been vocal about reimposing stringent sanctions against Iran to disrupt its financial support for terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. She led a Senate Committee hearing last year questioning U.S. enforcement actions against Iran's financial networks.

Britt continues advocating for stronger sanctions on Iran's resources and is a cosponsor of several legislative acts aimed at reinforcing these measures.