Urgent Action Needed

March 27, 2001

To:        Officers, Rabbis, Key Contacts

From:   Richard B. Stone, Chairman

             Betty Ehrenberg, Director, International and Communal Affairs

RE:       Renewal of the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act

---

Iran is the leading state-sponsor of terrorism in the world, supporting the very groups who have killed hundreds of innocent Israelis through terrorist acts, including Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and Hamas. This support of terrorism and terrorist groups has increased over the past year. Every week, jumbo jets leave Teheran and arrive in Damascus filled with advanced munitions destined for Southern Lebanon and the West Bank and Gaza.

All elements of the Iranian regime, including the supposed “moderate” President Khatemi, continue to call for the destruction of Israel. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khameni, recently called Israel “a cancerous tumor,” stating that it was “the mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to erase Israel from the map of the region.” Despite many Iranians’ desire for change, hardliners remain firmly in charge – and firm in their hostility to the United States and Israel.

Iran continues its aggressive pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. It has already flight-tested a missile that can reach Israel and American forces in the region, and is determinedly advancing its nuclear program. Just last week, Russia agreed to sell Iran sophisticated weaponry and more nuclear technology.

Talking Points

• Iran’s oil exports finance these programs:  Iran uses revenues from its oil exports to finance these programs but Iran desperately needs foreign investment in its oil industry to keep the oil flowing. Its production is little more than half of what it was under the Shah and is declining.

• Libyan involvement in the downing of Pan Am 103 has now been confirmed in a court of law, yet Libya continues to refuse to pay compensation to families or abide by other UN resolutions.

• The Iran-Libya Sanctions Act has successfully deterred foreign investment: In 1996, Congress overwhelmingly enacted the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act – ILSA. Over the last five years – the very time that ILSA has been law – Iran has sought foreign investment for 55 major petroleum development projects. Only six have received any foreign investment, thanks to ILSA. Most foreign petroleum industries have significant business in the United States. ILSA is working, deterring foreign investment by balancing the potential imposition of sanctions with presidential waiver authority.

• ILSA will expire in August unless Congress renews it:  Legislation will be introduced soon to extend the law for another five years, thus preserving an important element of our national security policy. To do anything less would signal a softening of the U.S. approach just at the time that Iran is intensifying its anti-U.S. and anti-Israel rhetoric and activities.

Write or call your Senators and Members of Congress to become original co-sponsors of the renewal of the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act, which will be introduced soon in the Senate by Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), and in the House by Representatives Ben Gilman (R-NY) and Howard Berman (D-CA).

Write to:

Call:

(202) 225-3121 Ask for your Representative

(202) 224-3121 Ask for your Senator

RBS

BE