Anti-Iran Moves Grow in U.S. as ME Crisis Continues
Iran, as the main supporter of the Intifada, has become the target of the U.S.
The Farsi Service of Voice of America (VOA), quoting informed sources, said that the U.S. Congress is determined to renew its sanctions against Iranian oil and gas.
According to the report, members of Congress have made up their minds to approve a bill presented in late May, which calls for renewal of the sanctions for another five years.
U.S. lawmakers on May 23 introduced legislation to extend U.S. sanctions prohibiting investments in the Iranian and Libyan oil sectors for another five years.
Introduced by pro-Zionist representative Ben Gilman, chairman of the House International Relations Committee, the bill has close to 200 co-sponsors.
The bill is expected to be heard by the full committee June 6, and then pass to the House floor.
A 1996 law, which accuses Iran and Libya of being supporters of international terrorism, calls for punitive U.S. measures against foreign companies that enter into investment contracts in excess of 40 million dollars a year in the Iranian or Libyan oil and natural gas sectors.
The law expires in August, unless Congress agrees to extend it.
In the meantime, another report from the U.S. said that the *** Wall Street Journal****, in its short news column, had carried a story on the U.S. intention to file a complaint against the Islamic Republic.
According to the report, the U.S. Justice Department is determined to file the complaint against Iran over the 1996 bombing of a U.S. base in Khobar, Saudi Arabia. 19 American servicemen were killed in the bombing.
The Riyadh government has repeatedly denied any evidence of Iranian involvement in the bombing, while the U.S. still insists that Iran was involved.
The bombing took place in Saudi Arabia and it is the responsibility of the Saudis to investigate the case. Nevertheless, the U.S. still seeks an excuse to show its hostile attitude toward the Islamic Republic.