John Cornyn on Iran

Summary

In 2003, Senator Cornyn introduced legislation to authorize funding for pro-democracy broadcasting into Iran to increase the advice and influence of Iranian-Americans in the U.S. Persian radio service, Radio Farda. He stated that the people of Iran should be able to choose if they want the current fundamentalist regime or the creation of a new government. 

In 2009, Senator Cornyn was critical of Iran after evidence was determined that Iran was still pursuing nuclear weapons. In 2010, he introduced legislation similar to the 2003 legislation which stated that the people of American should fully support efforts by the Iranian people to establish a democracy, and that they should do what was possible to deny the Iranian regime the ability to develop weapons of mass destruction, the ability to oppress it's people, and the ability to interfere with Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

The Iran Democracy Act

In March of 2003, Senator Cornyn released a press statement that expressed his support for the Iran Democracy Act. The Legislation was designed to strengthen support for Iranians seeking to create a democratic, secular government in Iran which respects human rights, abandons state-sponsored terrorism and rejects the possession and use of weapons of mass destruction.

We must send a clear message,” Cornyn said. “The people of Iran should be able to choose to support the current fundamentalist regime or the creation of a new government, one based on respect for freedom and human rights. Either way, it must be their choice.” The bill authorizes funding for an expansion of public diplomacy, namely pro-democracy broadcasting into Iran, and increases the advice and influence of Iranian-Americans in the U.S. Persian radio service, Radio Farda. It sets support for an internationally-monitored referendum in Iran to allow the Iranian people to peacefully change their system of government as official U.S. policy. The bill states that the U.S. will support the people of Iran in their peaceful struggle for freedom. The State Department recently cited Iran as “the most active state sponsor of terrorism in 2002.

 

A Nuclear Iran

In September of 2009, Senator Cornyn released a press statement noting the continued evidence that Iran was developing nuclear weapons.

"Today, we have further evidence that Iran has not come clean about the full extent of its nuclear program. Iran remains one of the foremost threats to the United States and peace-loving nations everywhere. Iran's drive to acquire nuclear weapons is a problem, as it continues to pose a tremendous risk to our national security and to that of our important friend and ally, Israel. In my view, all options should remain on the table in denying them these weapons of mass destruction. We must not allow Ahmadinejad to hold the world hostage.

 

The Iran Democratic Transition Act

In February of 2010, Senator Cornyn announced that he would be sponsoring legislation called the Iran Democratic Transition Act. 

 

Ahmadinejad should not be allowed to speak at the UN

In April of 2010, Senator Cornyn released a press statement noting his belief that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad should not be granted entry into the US to speak at the UN.

“This is preposterous, and allowing it to happen will make a mockery of the effort to stop the spread of nuclear weapons to rogue states and terrorist groups. There is simply no compelling reason for Ahmadinejad to be allowed to enter the United States.”
“As such, the U.S. Government has the legal authority to deny Ahmadinejad’s request and bar his entry—even if he is transiting only to the United Nations. We ask that you exercise that authority.”

 

Voting Record

Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act of 2009

In Jume of 2010, the Senate voted on legislation to enact sanctions on Iran's oil system hoping to force it to engage diplomatically on its nuclear program. The measure passed 99-0. John Cornyn voted in favor of the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act of 2009.

Designating Revolutionary Guard as Terrorists

In September of 2007, the Senate voted on a resolution that expressed the sense of the Senate on six items. These items were that:

• that the manner in which the United States transitions and structures its military presence in Iraq will have critical long-term consequences for the future of the Persian Gulf and the Middle East
• that it is a vital national interest of the United States to prevent the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran from turning Shi'a militia extremists in Iraq into a Hezbollah-like force that could serve its interests inside Iraq
• that it should be the policy of the United States to combat, contain, and roll back the violent activities and destabilizing influence inside Iraq of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran
• to support the prudent and calibrated use of all instruments of United States national power in Iraq, including diplomatic, economic, intelligence, and military instruments, in support of the policy described in paragraph (3) with respect to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies
• that the United States should designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps as a foreign terrorist organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and place the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps on the list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists, as established under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and initiated under Executive Order 13224
• that the Department of the Treasury should act with all possible expediency to complete the listing of those entities targeted under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1737 and 1747 adopted unanimously on December 23, 2006 and March 24, 2007, respectively.

Critics of the measure called it saber rattling even though it passed by a wide margin. John Cornyn voted in favor of the resolution.

 

Sponsored and Cosponsored Legislation

Session-111; Bill Number-S 908; Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act - Cosponsor

A bill to amend the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to enhance United States diplomatic efforts with respect to Iran by expanding economic sanctions against Iran.

Session-111; Bill Number-S 908; A bill to amend the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to enhance United States diplomatic efforts with respect to Iran by expanding economic sanctions against Iran. - Cosponsor

Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States should continue to support diplomatic efforts in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the U.N. Security Council to end Iran's illicit nuclear activities; (2) diplomatic efforts with Iran are more likely to be effective if the President is empowered with the explicit authority to impose additional sanctions on the government of Iran; (3) it should be U.S. policy to encourage foreign governments to direct state-owned and private entities to cease all investment in, and support of, Iran's energy sector and all exports of refined petroleum products to Iran; (4) the President is urged to impose sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran and any other Iranian financial institution engaged in proliferation activities or support of terrorist groups; (5) the Department of the Treasury should continue to work with allies to protect the international financial system from deceptive and illicit practices by Iranian financial institutions involved in proliferation activities or support of terrorist groups; (6) U.S. concerns regarding Iran are strictly the result of that government�s actions; and (7) the people of the United States have feelings of friendship for the people of Iran and regret that developments in recent decades have created impediments to that friendship.

Session-111; Bill Number-S 3008; Iran Democratic Transition Act of 2010 - Prime Sponsor

Authorizes the President to support a transition to a freely elected democratic government in Iran by providing eligible Iranian democratic opposition organizations with assistance for the communication and dissemination of accurate and independent information to the Iranian people through various media. Urges the President to fully utilize specified existing authorities and funding to: (1) support democracy in Iran through assistance for pro-democracy broadcasting into Iran and the dissemination of accurate and independent information to the Iranian people through various media; and (2) provide humanitarian assistance to individuals or groups determined by the President to be victims of repression by the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Session-111; Bill Number-S 3022; Iran Human Rights Sanctions Act - Cosponsor

Directs the President to impose visa entry and financial sanctions on a person determined to be complicit in human rights abuses committed against Iranian citizens or their family members on or after June 12, 2009, regardless of whether such abuses occurred in Iran. Requires that: (1) the list of such persons required by this Act be made available to the public and posted on the Department of the Treasury and the Department of State websites; and (2) the President consider data obtained by other countries and nongovernmental organizations that monitor Iran's human rights abuses in preparing such list.

Session-110; Bill Number-S 970; Iran Counter-Proliferation Act of 2007 - Cosponsor

A bill to impose sanctions on Iran and on other countries for assisting Iran in developing a nuclear program, and for other purposes.

Session-110; Bill Number-S Res 580; Iran - Nuclear Weapons - Cosponsor

A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate on preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability.

Session-110; Bill Number-S 1430; Iran Sanctions Enabling Act of 2007 - Cosponsor

A bill to authorize State and local governments to direct divestiture from, and prevent investment in, companies with investments of $20,000,000 or more in Iran's energy sector, and for other purposes.

Session-109; Bill Number-S 333; Iran Freedom and Support Act of 2005 - Cosponsor

A bill to hold the current regime in Iran accountable for its threatening behavior and to support a transition to democracy in Iran.

Session-109; Bill Number-S 3971; Iran Freedom Support Act - Cosponsor

A bill to hold the current regime in Iran accountable for its threatening behavior and to support a transition to democracy in Iran.

Session-112; Bill Number-S Res 386; Free and Fair Elections in Iran - Cosponsor

A resolution calling for free and fair elections in Iran, and for other purposes.

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