Dear A.,

The Treasury Department today issued new sanctions on five entities and one person based in Iran for their support of Iran’s nuclear program, including the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and its subordinate, The Iran Centrifuge Technology Company.

The sanctions action was "taken in furtherance of U.S. policy that Iran be denied a nuclear weapon," Treasury said in a press release.

"The Iranian regime’s reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons remains a grave threat to the United States and a menace to regional stability and global security," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. "Treasury will continue to leverage our tools and authorities to disrupt any attempt by Iran to advance its nuclear program and its broader destabilizing agenda."

Meanwhile, the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) today advanced the Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act (H.R.1422/S. 556), a bipartisan bill to tighten existing economic sanctions on Iran while providing new tools to increase enforcement.

Prior to the vote, HFAC Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL) and Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-NY) spoke in favor of the legislation, along with the authors of the bill, Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL).

AIPAC thanks Reps. Lawler and Cherfilus-McCormick for leading this important legislation and urges the full House to quickly take up and pass this vital bill.
    

Listen to a new 10-minute AIPAC podcast to learn more about the Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act and why it matters. You can listen on Apple, Spotify and Amazon Music.

The new U.S. sanctions issued today come following an announcement from President Trump on Monday during a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu that the United States will engage in direct talks with Iran over the regime's nuclear program this Saturday.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said yesterday of the talks: "We agree that Iran must not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. This can be achieved through an agreement — but only if it is a Libya-style agreement; one where the facilities are entered, dismantled, and destroyed under American supervision and execution — that’s good."

However, Netanyahu warned, the "second option is that it won’t happen at all, and they [Iran] will just drag out the negotiations," adding, "In that case, the option is military."

AIPAC supports time-bound talks to achieve the Trump administration’s stated goal of verifiably and permanently dismantling Iran’s nuclear program.

To be effective, these talks must continue to be coupled with the implementation of maximum pressure and a credible threat of military force.
    

Iran sends missiles to terror proxies in Iraq

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) transferred new long-range missiles to terrorist proxy groups in Iraq over the past week.

The transfer included surface-to-surface missiles capable of reaching as far as Europe, and easily within striking range of Israel.

According to reports, this is the first time long-range surface-to-surface missiles have been given to Iran's proxies in Iraq. "It’s a desperate move by the Iranians, risking the stability of Iraq," a regional intelligence source told The Times.

IDF expanding buffer zone in Gaza

The IDF is expanding its security buffer zone inside Gaza, as it continues to increase the military pressure on Hamas to free the remaining hostages.

Israeli troops are establishing a new corridor in the south between Rafah and Khan Younis, called the Morag Corridor, similar to the Netzarim Corridor in the north of the enclave.

Once this corridor is established, the IDF’s buffer zone in southern Gaza will stretch from the Egyptian border to the outskirts of Khan Younis and include the entire city of Rafah within it.

The buffer zone along the rest of the Gaza border is also being expanded to about 1.2 miles in most areas.

Gov. Mike Huckabee confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to Israel

The Senate today voted to confirm former Gov. Mike Huckabee's nomination as U.S. Ambassador to Israel.

Ambassador Huckabee is expected to quickly take up his post in Jerusalem.

AIPAC congratulates him on his confirmation and wishes him great success in this critical position.

Continue to follow AIPAC on social media for the latest updates.

Jake Braunstein
Director of Policy Communications