Congress Calls for Sanctions on Iran’s Parliament

Iran’s parliament is the legal framework that Tehran’s security forces can use to murder, torture, or imprison dissidents. According to Ayatollah Ali Khanei, Supreme Leader of Iran / AP

An bipartisan coalition is pushing the Biden government to sanction almost all of Iran’s parliament in light of the government’s crackdown upon anti-regime protesters.

A group of 26 representatives and senators representing both sides found that 227 out of the 290 members Iran’s parliament should be sanctioned. They provided the legal framework for Tehran security forces to torture, murder and imprison dissidents protesting in Iran for months.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran lacks democratic legitimacy, and the members of its parliament are not true democratic representatives of the Iranian people,” The lawmakers were led by Rep. Claudia Tenney (R.N.Y.) as well as Sen. Marco Rubio, (R.Fla.). Letter Submitted Wednesday to the Treasury and State Departments. “We urge you to take further actions—and encourage international partners to join us—to impose much clearer costs on the Iranian regime for the execution of protesters.”

The letter indicates that lawmakers from both sides are unhappy with the Biden administration’s responses to the anti-regime demonstration movement. This protest movement began in September 2013 and threatens Iran’s clerical regime. The Biden administration has imposed sanctions in response to the protest movement but it also opened the door to diplomacy with Tehran about the 2015 nuclear accord.

“We strongly encourage the Departments of State and the Treasury to levy further sanctions against Iranian officials and institutions involved in this brutal campaign of intimidation and extermination,” These were the words of the legislators.

The Iranian parliament, also known as the Majles has played a key role in the government’s crackdown against protesters. 227 members of parliament were forced to resign in November as the protest movement gained momentum. “signed an open statement calling for the Iranian government and judiciary to ‘show no leniency’ toward protesters and compared them to ISIS terrorists,” According to the letter of the legislators.

Iran’s ruling regime is responsible for the appointment and strict control of Majles members. They are elected to the parliament in order to support and advance policies that will strengthen Khamenei’s power.

Following the murder of a young girl by Iran’s morality police last year, protests have been ongoing.