U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and David Kustoff (R-Tenn.) introduced the Stop Corrupt Iranian Oligarchs and Entities Act on Monday.
If enacted, it would require the Treasury and State departments, as well as the director of national intelligence, to “identify and compile a list of Iranian oligarchs and entities that are ultimately profiting off the Iranian people,” according to a joint statement by the members’ offices.
“Over the past 40 years since the Islamic Revolution in Iran, we have seen Iran become a leading state sponsor of terrorism, build up its nuclear-weapons capability and endanger countries in the Middle East, including Israel, with acts of terrorism,” said Kustoff. “Due to years of mismanagement by the government, Iran is economically crumbling. While the regime refuses to address corruption within their own spheres, the Iranian middle class struggles every day to pay their bills and even feed their family.
“It is unacceptable that the leaders in Iran have continued to accumulate hundreds of millions of dollars of wealth from their positions as their people suffer,” he continued. “It is essential we stand up to and place maximum pressure on Iran and its leaders to help expose the corrupt nature of this dangerous regime.”
Gottheimer said that “in recent years, Iran has capitalized on sanctions relief, bankrolling terrorist organizations like Hezbollah, Hamas and military adventurism across the region, while enriching corrupt, regime-connected officials back at home. I am glad to join Rep. Kustoff, my colleague on the House Financial Services Committee, to introduce this bipartisan legislation which will create a public report shedding light on the Khamenei regime’s corruption, distortion and mismanagement of Iran’s economy.”
