[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 65 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 65

   Strongly supporting the full implementation of United States and 
international sanctions on Iran and urging the President to continue to 
            strengthen enforcement of sanctions legislation.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 28, 2013

  Mr. Graham (for himself, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. Schumer, Mr. 
Cornyn, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Casey, Mr. Hoeven, Mrs. Gillibrand, 
   Mr. Kirk, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Cardin, Ms. Collins, Mr. 
Begich, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Brown, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Portman, Mr. Manchin, and 
Mr. Lautenberg) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
                 to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Strongly supporting the full implementation of United States and 
international sanctions on Iran and urging the President to continue to 
            strengthen enforcement of sanctions legislation.

Whereas, on May 14, 1948, the people of Israel proclaimed the establishment of 
        the sovereign and independent State of Israel;
Whereas, on March 28, 1949, the United States Government recognized the 
        establishment of the new State of Israel and established full diplomatic 
        relations;
Whereas, since its establishment nearly 65 years ago, the modern State of Israel 
        has rebuilt a nation, forged a new and dynamic democratic society, and 
        created a thriving economic, political, cultural, and intellectual life 
        despite the heavy costs of war, terrorism, and unjustified diplomatic 
        and economic boycotts against the people of Israel;
Whereas the people of Israel have established a vibrant, pluralistic, democratic 
        political system, including freedom of speech, association, and 
        religion; a vigorously free press; free, fair, and open elections; the 
        rule of law; a fully independent judiciary; and other democratic 
        principles and practices;
Whereas, since the 1979 revolution in Iran, the leaders of the Islamic Republic 
        of Iran have repeatedly made threats against the existence of the State 
        of Israel and sponsored acts of terrorism and violence against its 
        citizens;
Whereas, on October 27, 2005, President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for a 
        world without America and Zionism;
Whereas, in February 2012, Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei said of Israel, 
        ``The Zionist regime is a true cancer tumor on this region that should 
        be cut off. And it definitely will be cut off.'';
Whereas, in August 2012, Supreme Leader Khamenei said of Israel, ``This bogus 
        and fake Zionist outgrowth will disappear off the landscape of 
        geography.'';
Whereas, in August 2012, President Ahmadinejad said that ``in the new Middle 
        East . . . there will be no trace of the American presence and the 
        Zionists'';
Whereas the Department of State has designated the Islamic Republic of Iran as a 
        state sponsor of terrorism since 1984 and has characterized the Islamic 
        Republic of Iran as the ``most active state sponsor of terrorism'' in 
        the world;
Whereas the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has provided weapons, 
        training, funding, and direction to terrorist groups, including Hamas, 
        Hizballah, and Shiite militias in Iraq that are responsible for the 
        murder of hundreds of United States service members and innocent 
        civilians;
Whereas the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has provided weapons, 
        training, and funding to the regime of Bashar al Assad that has been 
        used to suppress and murder its own people;
Whereas, since at least the late 1980s, the Government of the Islamic Republic 
        of Iran has engaged in a sustained and well-documented pattern of 
        illicit and deceptive activities to acquire a nuclear weapons 
        capability;
Whereas, since September 2005, the Board of Governors of the International 
        Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has found the Islamic Republic of Iran to be 
        in non-compliance with its safeguards agreement with the IAEA, which 
        Iran is obligated to undertake as a non-nuclear-weapon State Party to 
        the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, done at 
        Washington, London, and Moscow July 1, 1968, and entered into force 
        March 5, 1970 (NPT);
Whereas the United Nations Security Council has adopted multiple resolutions 
        since 2006 demanding of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran 
        its full and sustained suspension of all uranium enrichment-related and 
        reprocessing activities and its full cooperation with the IAEA on all 
        outstanding issues related to its nuclear activities, particularly those 
        concerning the possible military dimensions of its nuclear program;
Whereas the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has refused to comply 
        with United Nations Security Council resolutions or to fully cooperate 
        with the IAEA;
Whereas, in November 2011, the IAEA Director General issued a report that 
        documented ``serious concerns regarding possible military dimensions to 
        Iran's nuclear programme,'' and affirmed that information available to 
        the IAEA indicates that ``Iran has carried out activities relevant to 
        the development of a nuclear explosive device'' and that some activities 
        may be ongoing;
Whereas the Government of Iran stands in violation of the Universal Declaration 
        of Human Rights for denying its citizens basic freedoms, including the 
        freedoms of expression, religion, peaceful assembly and movement, and 
        for flagrantly abusing the rights of minorities and women;
Whereas in his State of the Union Address on January 24, 2012, President Barack 
        Obama stated, ``Let there be no doubt: America is determined to prevent 
        Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and I will take no options off the 
        table to achieve that goal.'';
Whereas Congress has passed and the President has signed into law legislation 
        imposing significant economic and diplomatic sanctions on Iran to 
        encourage the Government of Iran to abandon its pursuit of nuclear 
        weapons and end its support for terrorism;
Whereas these sanctions, while having significant effect, have yet to persuade 
        Iran to abandon its illicit pursuits and comply with United Nations 
        Security Council resolutions;
Whereas more stringent enforcement of sanctions legislation, including elements 
        targeting oil exports and access to foreign exchange, could still lead 
        the Government of Iran to change course;
Whereas, in his State of the Union Address on February 12, 2013, President Obama 
        reiterated, ``The leaders of Iran must recognize that now is the time 
        for a diplomatic solution, because a coalition stands united in 
        demanding that they meet their obligations. And we will do what is 
        necessary to prevent them from getting a nuclear weapon.'';
Whereas, on March 4, 2012, President Obama stated, ``Iran's leaders should 
        understand that I do not have a policy of containment; I have a policy 
        to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.'';
Whereas, on October 22, 2012, President Obama said of Iran, ``The clock is 
        ticking . . . And we're going to make sure that if they do not meet the 
        demands of the international community, then we are going to take all 
        options necessary to make sure they don't have a nuclear weapon.'';
Whereas, on May 19, 2011, President Obama stated, ``Every state has the right to 
        self-defense, and Israel must be able to defend itself, by itself, 
        against any threat.'';
Whereas, on September 21, 2011, President Obama stated, ``America's commitment 
        to Israel's security is unshakeable. Our friendship with Israel is deep 
        and enduring.'';
Whereas, on March 4, 2012, President Obama stated, ``And whenever an effort is 
        made to delegitimize the state of Israel, my administration has opposed 
        them. So there should not be a shred of doubt by now: when the chips are 
        down, I have Israel's back.'';
Whereas, on October 22, 2012, President Obama stated, ``Israel is a true friend. 
        And if Israel is attacked, America will stand with Israel. I've made 
        that clear throughout my presidency . . . I will stand with Israel if 
        they are attacked.'';
Whereas, in December 2012, 74 United States Senators wrote to President Obama 
        ``As you begin your second term as President, we ask you to reiterate 
        your readiness to take military action against Iran if it continues its 
        efforts to acquire a nuclear weapon. In addition, we urge you to work 
        with our European and Middle Eastern allies to demonstrate to the 
        Iranians that a credible and capable multilateral coalition exists that 
        would support a military strike if, in the end, this is unfortunately 
        necessary.''; and
Whereas the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012 
        (Public Law 112-150) stated that it is United States policy to support 
        Israel's inherent right to self-defense: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,

SECTION 1. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    Congress--
            (1) reaffirms the special bonds of friendship and 
        cooperation that have existed between the United States and the 
        State of Israel for more than sixty years and that enjoy 
        overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress and among the 
        people of the United States;
            (2) strongly supports the close military, intelligence, and 
        security cooperation that President Obama has pursued with 
        Israel and urges this cooperation to continue and deepen;
            (3) deplores and condemns, in the strongest possible terms, 
        the reprehensible statements and policies of the leaders of the 
        Islamic Republic of Iran threatening the security and existence 
        of Israel;
            (4) recognizes the tremendous threat posed to the United 
        States, the West, and Israel by the Government of Iran's 
        continuing pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability;
            (5) reiterates that the policy of the United States is to 
        prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon capability and to 
        take such action as may be necessary to implement this policy;
            (6) reaffirms its strong support for the full 
        implementation of United States and international sanctions on 
        Iran and urges the President to continue and strengthen 
        enforcement of sanctions legislation;
            (7) declares that the United States has a vital national 
        interest in, and unbreakable commitment to, ensuring the 
        existence, survival, and security of the State of Israel, and 
        reaffirms United States support for Israel's right to self-
        defense; and
            (8) urges that, if the Government of Israel is compelled to 
        take military action in self-defense, the United States 
        Government should stand with Israel and provide diplomatic, 
        military, and economic support to the Government of Israel in 
        its defense of its territory, people, and existence.

SEC. 2. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this resolution shall be construed as an authorization 
for the use of force or a declaration of war.
                                 <all>