WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate on Thursday approved legislation to punish foreign oil companies that export gasoline to Iran.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved the same measure earlier this month to ban companies that sell Iran gasoline from also delivering crude oil to the U.S. emergency petroleum stockpile. The bill now goes to President Barack Obama, who is expected to sign it into law.
The sanctions on Iran's fuel suppliers were included in an energy and water programs spending bill. The measure would block the U.S. Energy Department from awarding contracts to companies to deliver oil to the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve if the companies sell or ship gasoline to Iran.
The provision was sponsored by Senators Jon Kyl and Susan Collins.
Iran imports 40 percent of its gasoline to meet domestic demand.