Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act Of 2009

The threat from Iran continues to grow. Most experts agree that Iran currently has enough enriched uranium for at least one nuclear weapon, and Iran's nuclear scientists continue enriching more uranium day and night. With negotiations with Iran set to start next month -- and with Iran already stating that its nuclear program will not be on the table -- it is more important than ever that the Iranians see that they will pay a steep price for continuing their march towards nuclear weapons. Congress can and must send Iran this urgent message by advancing new economic sanctions. And, unlike past measures, these new sanctions must be tough enough to force the Iranians to abandon their dangerous course.

There is a bill before Congress which can do exactly that. The Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act of 2009 targets Iran's economy where it is most vulnerable: at the oil pump. Even though Iran is a major oil exporter, it doesn’t have enough refineries to produce sufficient gasoline for its domestic market. As a result, Iran must import 40% of its gasoline. Cutting this flow of gasoline would have a devastating impact that no Iranian government could ignore.

I urge you to contact your Congressmen today and tell them to support the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act of 2009. If your Congressmen have not yet co-sponsored this bill, please ask them to do so at once. If they are already co-sponsors, please thank them for their support and ask them to press their leadership for quick committee action and floor votes on this bill. All of your representatives can still play a vital role in ensuring that this bill becomes law.

Senators George V. Voinovich and Sherrod C. Brown and Rep. Jean Schmidt all are co-sponsors of this bill. Click here to thank your legislators for their support and urge them to take further action.