Israel Matzav

State Department to name and shame

Congressman Ted Deutch (D-Fla) has told the Jerusalem Post that the US State Department will publish a list of foreign companies who violate the United States' sanctions against Iran, possibly as soon as August.

“There has been sanctions legislation before. There have not been sanctions before,” Ted Deutch (D-Florida) told The Jerusalem Post Tuesday after appearing on a panel addressing Iran sanctions organized by the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.

“You’ll see over the coming days and weeks a real emphasis on ensuring that the comprehensive bill that was just passed is actually implemented, that the timelines are met, that the companies are identified, that ultimately sanctions are imposed on those companies.”

The commitment to implementation in a bid to stop Iran’s nuclear program is shared “across the political spectrum on Capitol Hill,” and that “right now the sense of urgency is great,” Deutch said.

Once the State Department has compiled a list of companies not in compliance with new and existing law, a new legislative requirement sets a firm timeline for the administration to decide what action it will take. The administration can “name and shame” those companies, impose sanctions like blocking them from access to American currency and banks, or exercise a waiver in which sanctions are avoided.

“The State Department should be in a position by early August to offer an assessment,” Deutch said of the list, which he described the State Department as having been working on for several months.

The State Department did not immediately response to a request for comment.

Well, it's sure taken them long enough to start taking this seriously.

Read the whole thing.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:26 PM