This bill targets Iran's military and financial support for Russia, especially regarding Russia's war in Ukraine. It requires the U.S. President to impose financial penalties and restrictions on Iranian individuals and banks that help Russia's military efforts. Think of it like freezing bank accounts and blocking business dealings for anyone caught supporting Russia's war.

The bill also makes it much harder to lift existing sanctions on Iran. Before removing any Iranian person from the U.S. government's list of sanctioned entities, the President must confirm that person hasn't sold weapons or military equipment to Russia for at least a year. Similarly, before the U.S. removes Iran's designation as a money laundering concern (which affects Iran's ability to do international banking), the President must certify that Iran has completely stopped providing military or financial help to Russia.

In practical terms, this bill aims to cut off a supply line between Iran and Russia by making the financial and legal consequences severe for any Iranian actors involved. It's designed to pressure Iran to stop supporting Russia's military operations, with the incentive being that sanctions could eventually be removed if Iran complies. The bill essentially says: if you want normal relations and access to the global financial system, you need to stop helping Russia.

DISRUPT Act of 2023

Lankford, James

Deterring Iranian Support for Russia in Ukraine and Pre-empting Terrorism Act of 2023 or the DISRUPT Act of 2023 This bill imposes new sanctions and new conditions on the termination of existing sanctions applicable to Iranian persons and institutions that support Russian military activities, including activities against Ukraine. Specifically, the bill requires the President to impose sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act upon (1) Iranian persons who provide material, tactical, or operational support for Russian activities against Ukraine, and (2) Iranian financial institutions that facilitate transactions with Russian persons who provide material, tactical, or operational support for Russian activities against Ukraine. The bill also requires the President to certify to Congress, before removing an Iranian person from the Department of the Treasury's Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, that the person did not sell defense articles to Russia for one year prior to certification. The President must also certify that Iran is no longer providing material or financial support to Russia before revoking Iran's designation as a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern.