U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) on Nov. 30 sponsored a bipartisan bill to clarify that American sanctions on Iran’s conventional weapons program under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act include the supply, sale or transfer to or from Iran of unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UAVs).
“With this bill, we are ensuring the world knows that the U.S. will use every tool to cut off Iran’s UAV supplies and to punish those who continue to supply Iran with UAVs and parts despite their destructive impact,” said U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member McCaul.
The Stop Iranian Drones Act, H.R. 6089, which is cosponsored by Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman, U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), also states that it is U.S. policy to prevent Iran and Iranian-aligned groups from acquiring UAVs that may be used in attacks against the United States or its partners, according to the text of the bill. U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) also have signed on as cosponsors of H.R. 6089.
“Iran’s UAV proliferation continues to threaten the U.S. and our allies throughout the Middle East. Whether the attack is launched by Iran, the Houthis, Iran-backed militia groups or any other Iran-sponsored entities, these attacks are intolerable,” Rep. McCaul said. “The people of the Middle East, including Americans living there, cannot live in freedom, stability or prosperity under assault by Iran’s drones.”
H.R. 6089 has been referred for consideration to both the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee and the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.
“Deadly drones in the hands of the world’s greatest exporter of terrorism, Iran, jeopardizes the security of the United States and regional peace,” Rep. Meeks said. “The Stop Iranian Drones Act (SIDA) not only aligns current U.S sanctions law with the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, but also sends a strong signal to the international community that support for the Iranian drone program will not be tolerated by the government of the United States.”