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11 March 2005

Bush Extends National Emergency with Respect to Iran

Declaration maintains 10-year-old executive order in effect

President Bush has extended the United States’ national emergency with respect to Iran because of that country’s continued support for terrorism, its efforts to undermine the Middle East peace process and its efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction.

In a March 10 notice for publication in the Federal Register and an accompanying letter to Congress, Bush stated that Iran’s policies pose “an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.”  For this reason, he said, the national emergency declared by President Clinton in March 1995 must remain in force.

The original declaration and subsequent executive orders provided for a tightening of U.S. sanctions on Iran.  This declaration of emergency is distinct from the national emergency declared by President Carter in November 1979.  That declaration remains in effect as well.

According to the legislation governing executive declarations of national emergency, the declarations must be renewed annually, or else they are automatically terminated.

Following are the texts of the White House’s notice and letter to Congress:

(begin text)

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Montgomery, Alabama)
March 10, 2005

NOTICE

CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO IRAN

On March 15, 1995, by Executive Order 12957, the President declared a national emergency with respect to Iran pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the actions and policies of the Government of Iran, including its support for international terrorism, efforts to undermine the Middle East peace process, and acquisition of weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them.  On May 6, 1995, the President issued Executive Order 12959 imposing more comprehensive sanctions to further respond to this threat, and on August 19, 1997, the President issued Executive Order 13059 consolidating and clarifying the previous orders.

Because the actions and policies of the Government of Iran continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States, the national emergency declared on March 15, 1995, must continue in effect beyond March 15, 2005.  Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency with respect to Iran.  Because the emergency declared by Executive Order 12957 constitutes an emergency separate from that declared on November 14, 1979, by Executive Order 12170, this renewal is distinct from the emergency renewal of November 2004.  This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

GEORGE W. BUSH

THE WHITE HOUSE, March 10, 2005

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Montgomery, Alabama)
March 10, 2005

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date.  Consistent with this provision, I have sent the enclosed notice stating that the Iran emergency declared on March 15, 1995, is to continue in effect beyond March 15, 2005, to the Federal Register for publication.  The most recent notice continuing this emergency was published in the Federal Register on March 12, 2004 (69 FR 12051).

The crisis between the United States and Iran constituted by the actions and policies of the Government of Iran, including its support for international terrorism, efforts to undermine Middle East peace, and acquisition of weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them, that led to the declaration of a national emergency on March 15, 1995, has not been resolved.  These actions and policies are contrary to the interests of the United States in the region and pose a continuing unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.  For these reasons, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared with respect to Iran and maintain in force comprehensive sanctions against Iran to respond to this threat.

GEORGE W. BUSH

THE WHITE HOUSE, March 10, 2005.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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