Obama lets Iran sanctions renew without his signature
ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency
Thu / 15 December 2016 / 15:03
TEHRAN (ISNA) - The U.S. President Barack Obama has declined to sign a bill renewing existing sanctions against Iran, but allowed the legislation to become law.
The US Senate passed a 10-year extension of the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) on December 1, sending the measure to the White House for Obama to sign into law, Los Angeles Time reported.
The House of Representatives voted 419 to 1 last month to reauthorize ISA, which was first introduced in 1996 to punish investments in Iran's energy industry based on accusations that Tehran was pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.
Under the US Constitution, the president has 10 days after Congress passes legislation to sign it, reject it or do nothing.
The White House had said that the US president was expected to sign the bill into law, but Obama did not approve the measure as the Wednesday midnight deadline passed.
In a statement late on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the president had decided to allow the legislation to become law without his signature.
"The administration has, and continues to use, all of the necessary authorities to waive the relevant sanctions" lifted as part of the nuclear deal between Iran and the 5+1 group of countries, Earnest said.
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