ITA urges you to join our STOP ILSA 2001! Campaign by contacting your representatives in Congress today.

The Iran Lybia Sanctions Act 1996 (ILSA) was due to expire on August 5, 2001. The Iranian Trade Association urges you to contact your members of congress against the renewal of ILSA. Reinstating sanctions on Iran or even foreign companies that invest in Iran is counterproductive and harmful to the fragile development of US-Iranian relations and the Iranian people. We are better off now with Iran than we were in 1996. Don't let Congress turn the US-Iran engagement clock back by 5 years. Join us against ILSA renewal, write your representatives in Congress, and urge them NOT TO COSPONSOR ILSA reauthorization in 2001. Contact your members of Congress with your opposition today.

Here is a current ILSA Update!

May 9, 2001: After weeks of delay and with little advance notice, on May 9th, the House International Relations Subcommittee on Middle East held a non-legislative hearing to discuss ILSA renewal.

May 9, 2001: ITA President and several ITA members attended the ILSA hearing on Capitol Hill. ITA recorded the event in digital video format and entered a statement into the Congressional record opposing ILSA renewal and asserting Iranian American support for no further sanctions on Iran.

May 9, 2001: Archie W. Dunham, President and CEO of Conoco Inc., submitted written testimony to the House International Relations Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia recommending that Congress allow the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act to expire.

May 9, 2001: Washington, D.C. – Testifying at the House International Relations Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, Bill Reinsch, National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) President and USA*ENGAGE Vice Chairman, today urged Congress to allow the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA) to expire.

May 11, 2001: In a Washington Post op-ed, Brent Scowcroft, former national security advisor to Presidents Ford and Bush sites a soon-to-be-released study by the Atlantic Council of the United States recommending that the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act not be renewed. "That is wise counsel," he writes. The sanctions policy against Iran has been almost completely ineffective, he argues. "This is an important moment of opportunity with respect to Iran, and the United States should not fail to take a chance on freedom for Iran.

May 23, 2001: Congressmen Gilman and Berman held a press conference at 2:00 pm on Capitol Hill to announce introduction of a 5-year ILSA renewal, with 170 co-sponsors. May 23, 2001: Washington, D.C. – Thirteen major trade associations, representing thousands of American businesses and farmers, today called on Congress to oppose reauthorization of the Iran Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA). In a letter sent to all Senators and Representatives, the organizations urged Congress not to tie the Administration to a failed policy.

May 24, 2001: A 5-year ILSA renewal bill was introduced and will be marked up by the International Relations Committee on June 6. The bill's sponsors, Reps. Gilman, Berman, Ackerman, Engel, Cantor, Harmon and Crowley, announced that they have 190 co-sponsors. ILSA was officially introduced in the House as H.R. 1954 as the "ILSA Extension Act," extending current law for five more years. The bill had 203 co-sponsors at introduction. The International Relations Committee has scheduled a mark-up on June 6, two days before the Iranian elections. The bill has not yet been introduced in the Senate. To date, the Administration has no public position on ILSA.

June 6, 2001: The House international Relations Committee was scheduled to mark up H.R. 1954, the ILSA Extension Act, at 10:00 on June 6 in 2172 Rayburn, on Capitol Hill. However, the mark up has been postponed to sometime later. No date has been announced as of the date of this ILSA Update! Stay Tuned!

Provided below are some additional resources for your review and action. Thank you for your support!

Need more information or have a question? Ask ITA via Email