An Act Of War
Resolution
calls for
embargo
against Iran
Gareth
Porter says
that US
House Res.
362 suggests
the use of
force with
new bill
Congress is calling for President Bush to ban all exports of refined petroleum going into Iran to help stop its nuclear program. US House Res.362 demands "stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains, and cargo entering or departing Iran." Although Iran has one of the largest oil reserves in the world, it relies on imports for over 40% of its refined petroleum.
Congress looks set to pass a resolution calling for the President to enact stricter economic sanctions against Iran, including an embargo against any imports of refined Petroleum. American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which is said to have help author the resolution, sent thousands of members to lobby for the resolution in early June. The organization's website states that this resolution will help stop Iran's nuclear program. Gareth Porter also posits that aggressive policy towards Iran from both the US and Israel is partially responsible for the rising price of oil.
Bio
Gareth Porter is a historian and investigative journalist on US foreign and military policy analyst. He writes regularly for Inter Press Service on US policy towards Iraq and Iran. Author of four books, the latest of which is Perils of Dominance: Imbalance of Power and the Road to War in Vietnam.
The most strongly worded section of the legislation is article three, which states: "Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That Congress - (3) demands that the President initiate an international effort to immediately and dramatically increase the economic, political, and diplomatic pressure on Iran to verifiably suspend its nuclear enrichment activities by, inter alia [among other things], prohibiting the export to Iran of all refined petroleum products; imposing stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains, and cargo entering or departing Iran; and prohibiting the international movement of all Iranian officials not involved in negotiating the suspension of Iran's nuclear program."
