    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [March 12, 2003]
    [Page 261]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Congress on Continuation of the National Emergency With
    Respect to Iran
    March 12, 2003

    To the Congress of the United States:
        Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d))
    provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless,
    prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President
    publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice
    stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the
    anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have sent the
    enclosed notice, stating that the Iran emergency is to continue in
    effect beyond March 15, 2003, to the Federal Register for publication.
    The most recent notice continuing this emergency was published in the
    Federal Register on March 14, 2002 (67 FR 11553).
        The crisis between the United States and Iran constituted by the
    actions and policies of the Government of Iran, including its support
    for international terrorism, efforts to undermine Middle East peace, and
    acquisition of weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver
    them, that led to the declaration of a national emergency on March 15,
    1995, has not been resolved. These actions and policies are contrary to
    the interests of the United States in the region and pose a continuing
    unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign
    policy, and economy of the United States. For these reasons, I have
    determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency
    declared with respect to Iran and maintain in force comprehensive
    sanctions against Iran to respond to this threat.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     March 12, 2003.

    Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    March 13. The notice of March 12 is listed in Appendix D at the end of
    this volume.