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ORTHODOX UNION COMMENDS CONGRESS FOR PASSAGE OF IRAN SANCTIONS LEGISLATION

Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, applauds the United States Congress for the passage of the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act of 2009. The act passed the Senate this afternoon by a unanimous vote and was quickly approved by the House of Representatives by a margin of 408-8 later in the day.

The Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act of 2009, when signed by President Obama, will put in place tough new sanctions against foreign companies that either contribute to Iran’s energy industry or conduct any business with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. These sanctions are a crucial component of this country’s overall plan to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear capabilities. We now call on President Obama to sign the Act into law and to immediately and aggressively implement its sanctions.

The Orthodox Union would like to especially commend Congressmen Howard Berman (D-CA), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Barney Frank (D-MA) and Sander Levin (D-MI) along with Senators Chris Dodd (D-CN), John Kerry (D-MA) and Dick Lugar (R-IN) for their leadership on this crucial piece of legislation.

Stephen J. Savitsky, President of the Orthodox Union stated:

The United States must lead the world in taking action to prevent a nuclear Iran. Should Iran achieve that goal, the Middle East will be destabilized and democracies around the world will be threatened. Combined with the recently approved Iran Sanctions Resolution in the United Nations, this act will greatly decrease Iran’s ability to achieve nuclear capabilities.

Rabbi Steven Weil, Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union stated:

The Iranian regime’s nuclear ambitions are the single greatest threat to the security of the State of Israel. A nation that threatens the extermination of another should under no circumstances be allowed to possess man’s most dangerous weapon. We are extremely encouraged by this important step taken by Congress today.

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