Iran Sanctions

Iran is subject to a wide range of U.S. sanctions, restricting trade with, investment, and U.S. foreign aid to Iran, and requiring the United States to vote against international lending to Iran. Since 2006, the United Nations Security Council has imposed some sanctions primarily attempting to curtail supply to Iran of weapons-related technology but also sanctioning some Iranian banks. U.S. officials have identified Irans energy sector as a key Iranian vulnerability because Irans government revenues are approximately 80 dependent on oil revenues. International pressure on Iran to curb its nuclear program has increased the hesitation of many major foreign firms to invest in Irans energy sector, hindering Irans efforts to expand oil production beyond 4.1 million barrels per day, but some firms continue to see opportunity in Iran. In light of the strength of the democratic opposition in Iran, one trend in Congress is to alter some U.S. sanctions laws in order to facilitate the democracy movements access to information, and to target those persons or institutions in the regime who are committing human rights abuses against protesters. For more on Iran, see CRS Report RL32048, Iran U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses, by Kenneth Katzman.