[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 30 (Thursday, February 13, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S982]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 81--CALLING ON THE UNITED KINGDOM, FRANCE, AND
GERMANY (E3) TO INITIATE THE SNAPBACK OF SANCTIONS ON IRAN UNDER UNITED
NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 2231 (2015)
Mr. RICKETTS (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Barrasso, Mrs. Capito,
Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Justice, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Sheehy, Mr. Sullivan, Ms.
Lummis, Mr. Crapo, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Cruz, and Mr. Young) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations:
S. Res. 81
Whereas, on July 15, 2015, the P5+1 (the United States, the
United Kingdom, France, the People's Republic of China, the
Russian Federation, and Germany), the European Union, and the
Islamic Republic of Iran finalized the Joint Comprehensive
Plan of Action (JCPOA);
Whereas the JCPOA required the Government of Iran to
implement constraints on its uranium enrichment and heavy
water nuclear reactor programs, as well as allow the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to monitor
compliance with the agreement;
Whereas, on July 20, 2015, the United Nations Security
Council (UNSC) passed Resolution 2231 (UNSCR 2231), which
endorsed the JCPOA and provided for the termination of all
previous UNSC resolutions targeting Iran's nuclear program
(1696, 1737, 1747, 1803 1835, and 1929), while maintaining
United Nation's arms restrictions on Iran for 5 years and
United Nation's prohibitions on Iran's missile and drone
activity for 8 years;
Whereas, pursuant to the JCPOA, Iran received significant
sanctions relief from the previous sanctions imposed by the
European Union, the United States, and previous UNSC
resolutions;
Whereas Iran used this sanctions relief to fund its
terrorist proxies, regional aggression, and its expansion of
its ballistic missile program;
Whereas, on May 8, 2018, President Donald J. Trump
announced the United States was ceasing its participation in
the JCPOA and reimposing sanctions against Iran that had been
previously waived;
Whereas President Trump's successful maximum pressure
campaign imposed significant financial costs on Iran's regime
``to alter its course of malign activities and ensure that
Iranian bad acts are no longer rewarded'';
Whereas, Iran has repeatedly violated the terms of the
JCPOA and UNSCR 2231, including by--
(1) lifting the cap on its stockpile of uranium;
(2) increasing its enrichment activities to 60 percent
purity, expanding its enrichment capabilities;
(3) resuming its activity at prohibited nuclear
facilities; and
(4) preventing the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) from being able to effectively monitor its nuclear
activities;
Whereas, Iran repeatedly violated UNSCR 2231's restrictions
on ballistic missile testing and development, as well as
United Nations-imposed and internationally binding arms
export and import embargoes;
Whereas UNSCR 2231 includes a formal mechanism for a
participant state of the JCPOA, if it believes there has been
significant non-performance of commitments under the JCPOA by
Iran, to trigger a process that would require the UNSC to
``snapback'' all United Nation sanctions on Iran that has
been lifted pursuant to UNSCR 2231;
Whereas, on September 14, 2024, in a joint statement, the
United States and United Kingdom acknowledged publicly that
Iran's nuclear program ``has never been more advanced and
posed a clear threat to regional and global peace and
security'';
Whereas, in June and November of 2024, in efforts led by
France, Germany, the United Kingdom (E3), and the United
States, the IAEA's Board of Governors voted to censure Iran
for non-compliance with its obligations under the Treaty on
the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, done at Washington,
London, and Moscow July 1, 1968 (commonly referred to as the
``Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty'' or ``NPT'');
Whereas, on December 9, 2024, the E3 sent a letter to the
United Nations Security Council stating, ``We reiterate our
determination to use all diplomatic tools to prevent Iran
from acquiring a nuclear weapon, including using snapback if
necessary.'';
Whereas, on January 6, 2025, President of France Emmanuel
Macron said the acceleration of Iran's nuclear program was
``bringing us very close to the breaking point'' and said,
``We will have to ask ourselves whether to use the mechanism
for re-establishing sanctions. We are ready to do so if the
question arises.'';
Whereas, on January 23, 2025, the Director General of the
IAEA, Rafael Grossi, said that Iran has increased production
of 60 percent enriched uranium from 7 kilograms to over 30
kilograms per month, and currently possess about 200
kilograms, which if enriched to 90 percent would amount to at
least 5 nuclear weapons; and
Whereas, under UNSCR 2231, the resolution, including the
``snapback'' mechanism, terminates 10 years after Adoption
Day for the JCPOA, which will be October 18, 2025: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes that Iran's possession of a nuclear weapon
would threaten not only the security of the United States,
but global security at large, including United States allies
and partners in Europe and the Middle East;
(2) condemns the Government of Iran's flagrant and
repeated violations of commitments it made under the JCPOA
and its international obligations under UNSCR 2231;
(3) condemns the Russian Federation and the People's
Republic of China, who remain participants in the JCPOA, for
their role in supporting Iran's malign activities;
(4) reaffirms that the United States Government maintains
the right to take any necessary measures to prevent the
Government of Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons;
(5) supports the imposition and enforcement of robust
sanctions on Iran for it nuclear and missile programs and on
entities and individuals involved in these programs to deter
further proliferation efforts; and
(6) urges the E3 to invoke the ``snapback'' of United
Nations sanctions against Iran under UNSCR 2231 as soon as
possible before the option expires on October 18, 2025.
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