Iran Parliament firmly approves anti-US bill

EghtesadOnline: Iranian lawmakers on Sunday overwhelmingly voted to approve a bill aimed at countering Washington's adventurous and terrorist activities in the region.

News ID: ۷۴۳۲۵۱

13 August 2017

The bill secured 240 yes votes and one abstention, according to IRNA.

A total of 247 lawmakers were present at the parliament session.

The legislation is a reaction to a bill ratified recently in the US Senate allowing Washington to impose non-nuclear sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Government representative Abbas Araqchi was also present in the Majlis session. He described the legislation as wise and said that government of President Rouhani will support it.

'The bill has very wisely tried not to violate the JCPOA and also give no chance to the other party to manipulate it,' Araqchi said.

According to the bill submitted to the Majlis Presiding Board, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense, Intelligence, as well as the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), the IRGC Quds Force, and the Islamic Republic Army, based on their hierarchy and in coordination with the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, are obliged to, within a period of six months following the ratification of the bill, devise a comprehensive strategic plan to counter the US threats.

The plan should be aimed at addressing the US bullies and threats against the Islamic Republic of Iran, Washington's hegemonic, terrorist and divisive policies, its illegal military and security interferences in the region, and the US military and intelligence support of terrorism and extremism.

The bill also urges the above-said ministries and military bodies to annually report to the Majlis on the implementation of their plans.

The bill also, with regard to the US overt and covert military and intelligence support for terrorist groups and the confession made by some US officials, including US former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, that the Washington is behind the formation and propping up of Daesh (ISIS), recognizes the US forces in the region, both military and intelligence, as promoters of terrorism.

Therefore, the following entities won't be granted a visa to enter Iran, and they are not going to be allowed to do any transactions at the Iranian banks, while their accounts will be blocked and their properties in Iran will be confiscated:

1. US military and security organizations and their commanders who have provided effective financial, intelligence, military, logistic and training backing for the terrorists in the region, especially those of Daesh and al-Nusra Front.

2. US entities involved in the above-mentioned activities.

3. US entities involved in organizing, financing, leading or committing terrorist actions against Iran.

4. US entities who, directly or indirectly, support the Mujahedin Khalg Organization (MKO) terrorists or similar extremist terrorist groups, such as Daesh and al-Nusra Front, and give them financial, political, cultural, military, and propagandistic aids.

5. US entities who support state terrorism, including the Zionists' regional terrorist activities, targeting the Palestinian people in the Occupied Lands and Lebanon, and those who play a significant role in such activities.

According to article five of the bill, inasmuch as the US government hypocritically and systematically violates the basic human rights in the region and the world, and supports dictatorial and aggressive governments under the cover of economic, scientific, medical, biological and industrial activities, and even act against its own citizens, like what it did to the Branch Davidians [in 1993] and as well as the African Americans, it is subjected to all the above-mentioned punishments.

The bill also allocates a budget of about five billion dollars to reinforcing the country's defensive power, improving deterrent its power, countering terrorism, increasing Iran's diplomatic leverage and intelligence capabilities, safeguarding the regional stability, supporting the IRGC, development of nuclear propellers and boosting Iran's defensive capabilities against possible nuclear attacks.

Fifty percent of the budget earmarked should go to the Staff of the Armed Forces in order to expand missile activities and the other half should be allocated to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, and Defense.

In order to fight terrorism, the bill also allots 2.5 billion dollars to the IRGC Quds Force.

According to the bill, the Iranian government can provide support for individuals who disclose US illegal actions and violations of human rights by Washington.

The Ministry of Defense is responsible to provide weapons needed to defend the country with the priority given to domestic military hardware, but the ministry can seek help from other countries if necessary, the bill says.