President Obama signed into effect the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 on July 1.  Just when you thought the United States had exhausted all its recourse against the Islamic Republic of Iran (due to very comprehensive, existing sanctions), a new legal framework has been implemented that makes full use of the U.S.’ economic prowess and influence over third countries.  I was quoted on this law in the Financial Times on July 14, 2010.  Click here for a link to the article.  The Los Angeles Times has also quoted me – click here.

How Does the Bill Affect Iran?

As mentioned above, the United States maintains comprehensive unilateral sanctions on Iran, preventing U.S. persons (as defined in the applicable regulations) from engaging in transactions for the provision of most goods and services to Iran.  As the United States has fewer levers to pull given the breadth of the current sanctions, Congress did the next best (and possibly better) thing – implementing sanctions on third country entities that assist or do business with Iran in key sectors, such as the country’s nuclear, finance, and energy sectors, not to mention the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and related entities.

What’s Covered?

The new bill covers a range of entities and activities. Additionally, it requires that the administration periodically collect data on Iranian business done by G20 nations.  Notably, human rights play a key role as well – with the placement of sanctions on individuals responsible for human rights violations in Iran following that country’s June 2009 presidential elections.

A summary I wrote on the new law is available on the Iranian-American Bar Association (IABA) website.  Click here.