WASHINGTON, July 23 (UPI) -- The chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee said he will push ahead with new economic sanctions on the Iranian energy sector.
U.S. Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., said he will push for amendments to the Iran Sanctions Act to target the petroleum sector in Iran if it does not move on an offer from Washington to hold bilateral talks on uranium enrichment.
Iran faces U.S. and international scrutiny over its controversial nuclear program. Washington says the program is for nuclear weapons, while Tehran maintains it is pursuing civilian nuclear energy production.
The amendment would target entities involved in the export of refined petroleum products to Iran or that have significant investments in the Iranian energy sector.
Despite sitting on massive oil and gas reserves, Iran is forced to import most of its gasoline because of a lack of sufficient refining capacity.
Berman did not indicate when he would move forward with the legislation, only suggesting it would come by the end of the year, Voice of America reports.
The measure has 260 sponsors from the 435 voting members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
