Washington, DC –
U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, today released the following statement in response to Senate passage of
H.R. 2194
,
the
Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act
by a vote of 99-0.  Senator Cardin was an original cosponsor of the Senate version of this legislation (S. 908).

“With the Senate passage the Iran Sanctions Act, we are finally poised to inflict real damage to Iran’s economy if it continues its nuclear program. Along with the new, multilateral sanctions approved by the United Nation’s earlier this month, we now have a better chance to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear threat to Israel, the United States and the world.
  Iran has remained defiant, however, leaving few options beyond a unified and forceful implementation of an economic sanctions regime, along with rigorous enforcement, to stop them from moving further down their current, dangerous path.

“Make no mistake: Iran seeks to build and possess a nuclear arsenal, which they then could share with terrorist elements like Hezbollah. Working with my colleagues in the Senate, I will do all that I can so that this can never become a reality.

“I look forward to the President’s swift action in signing this legislation into law and for his Administration implement these sanctions as quickly as possible.”