The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation on March 16 that is designed to tighten sanctions on global buyers of Iranian oil.
The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act was sponsored by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) with support from Rep. George Latimer (D-N.Y.).
“The United States will not allow the Iranian regime to evade sanctions and bankroll terrorism through illicit oil sales," Lawler said after the successful vote. "For too long, Iran has relied on a network of foreign banks, insurers, and logistics providers to move sanctioned oil. This legislation targets that entire network and ensures those financing the largest state sponsor of terrorism face real consequences."
H.R. 1422 seeks to disrupt Iran’s remaining energy revenues by expanding penalties on companies, banks, and shipping networks that handle its crude exports.
The bill, which passed by voice vote, is expected to increase economic pressure on Tehran amid U.S.-Israeli strikes.
"The regime is responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans and thousands of Israelis and thousands of Muslims," he said. "They are the face of evil."
President Donald Trump pre-emptively struck Iran on Feb. 28, alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Israeli Defense Forces. Since Feb. 28, U.S.-Israeli strikes have sunk some 60 Iranian ships, struck more than 5,500 targets, leveled drone factories, neutralized 80 percent of Iran's missile launchers, and hit a large ballistic missile manufacturing facility.
Rep. George Latimer (D-N.Y.), a co-sponsor, said the future of Iran is highly uncertain and only time will tell whether Trump’s decision to strike will cause more harm than good.
“This legislation expands secondary sanction authorities to target foreign companies that knowingly purchase, transport, refine, insure or finance Iranian oil and petroleum products,” Latimer said. “That includes shipping companies, port operators, insurance providers and other logistical actors that help move Iranian crude around the world.”
Although he joined with Lawler to expand sanctions, Latimer also criticized the Trump administration for starting a war with Iran that Congress did not authorize.
"The administration started this military campaign without a strategy or an end game," Latimer added. "The money Trump has already spent on this war could have paid for a full year of ACA Premium Tax Credit Extensions for Americans here at home."
Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies lowered health insurance costs for some 22 million people but they expired last year.
The number of American troops wounded in the conflict has risen to around 200, with 10 being serious injuries.
Officials have officially confirmed the deaths of 13 U.S. troops since the conflict began. The latest deaths—Maj. John A. Klinner, 33; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31; Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34; Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28—occurred when a refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq.