    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [September 30, 2006]
    [Pages 1737-1738]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Congressional Passage of Legislation Supporting Iran's
    Freedom
    September 30, 2006

        My administration is working on many fronts to address the
    challenges posed by the Iranian regime's pursuit of weapons of mass
    destruction, support for terrorism, efforts to destabilize the Middle
    East, and repression of the fundamental human rights of the citizens of
    Iran. We are engaged in intense diplomacy alongside our allies and have
    also undertaken financial measures to counter the actions of the Iranian
    regime.
        I applaud Congress for demonstrating its bipartisan commitment to
    confronting the Iranian regime's repressive and destabilizing activities
    by passing the Iran Freedom Support Act. This legislation will codify
    U.S. sanctions on Iran while providing my administration with
    flexibility to tailor those sanctions in appropriate circumstances and
    impose sanctions upon entities that aid the Iranian regime's development
    of nuclear weapons.
        I applaud the efforts of Chairman Richard Shelby, Ranking Member Paul Sarbanes, Rick Santorum, and Bill
    Nelson in the Senate and Chairman Henry
    Hyde, Ranking Member Tom Lantos, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and Gary Ackerman in the
    House. I look forward to signing this bill into law, which will
    facilitate America's support for the Iranian people in their efforts to
    build a just, free, and peaceful society.

    Note: The statement referred to H.R. 6198.

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