WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) today introduced critical legislation to hold Iran accountable for its regime of terror across the world. The Maximum Pressure Act, which is cosponsored by 37 members of Congress, would impose the toughest sanctions ever on Iran, preventing their ability to fund terror throughout the Middle East.
“For too long, Iran’s regime of terror reigned over the Middle East and targeted American interests with no fear of repercussions from the United States. That ends now,” said Rep. Nunn. “President Trump has made it clear that Iran’s direct assaults on global security and American leadership will no longer go unanswered. We must apply maximum pressure on the Iranian regime to defend our interests and protect American lives.”
For the past four years, the Iranian regime has unleashed havoc on the Middle East. The Biden Administration failed to enforce sanctions against Iran, allowing the regime and its proxies to orchestrate, fund, and celebrate attacks on Israel and the United States.
“The Maximum Pressure Act is the crown jewel of the RSC’s legislative push to stand up to Iran and has been championed by the committee since the 117th Congress. This legislation isn’t just tough—it’s a financial vice crushing Iran’s terror machine. Where the previous administration created harmful loopholes, the Republican Study Committee is gutting Iran’s ability to fund terrorism. I applaud RSC National Security Task Force Chairman Zach Nunn for his work in championing the toughest Iran sanctions package ever proposed by Congress,” said RSC Chairman Pfluger.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists, supported by Iran, perpetrated a surprise attack on Israel, launching thousands of rockets and entering Israel by land, sea, and air. The attack resulted in the death of hundreds of people, including American citizens. Hundreds more were injured and kidnapped. In addition to the October 7 terrorist attack, Iran has also launched attacks on U.S. servicemembers and targeted U.S. commercial vessels in the Guld of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
“The devastation wrought by Iran’s proxies was bought and paid for by Iranian monies which accrued as a direct result of the failure to enforce crippling sanctions on the tyrants of Tehran. This bill ensures the Trump administration has the tools it needs to economically devastate the regime. Through America’s actions against the Iranian backed Houthis in Yemen and Israel’s devastation of Hamas and Hezbollah, we are now in a place to deal with the Iranian nuclear weapons program once and for all,” said CUFI Action Fund Chairwoman Sandra Parker.
On February 4, 2025, President Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum (NSPM) restoring maximum pressure on the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, denying Iran all paths to a nuclear weapon, and countering Iran’s malign influence abroad.
“To address the Iranian threat in all its dimensions, we need a much better deal than the failed Obama/Biden JCPOA. The Maximum Pressure Act is based on the key insight that the only way the dangerous Tehran regime will end its pursuit of nuclear weapons capability and its other malign activities is if the U.S. is relentless and resolute in using every tool at our disposal to force compliance with international norms and treaty obligations,” said Chairman Senator Norm Coleman and CEO Matt Brooks of the Republican Jewish Coalition. “Congressman Nunn’s bill reinforces the highly successful Trump administration policy of strong sanctions that severely hindered the Iranian regime’s ability to pursue nuclear weapons and the missiles to carry them, as well as its support of terrorism around the world and its human rights abuses at home.”
As a former intelligence officer and current Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, Rep. Nunn has led efforts to hold Iran accountable for their acts of terror across the world. Rep. Nunn led the Revoke Iranian Funding Act, to permanently freeze $6 billion in Iranian assets and increase transparency to prevent future Iranian funding of terror attacks, a portion of which was included as an amendment to the national security supplemental appropriations package. As a member of the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Nunn was a vocal critic of the Biden Administration’s failure to hold Iran accountable for their ghost armada of illicit oil tankers. Additionally, Rep. Nunn led a bipartisan resolution declaring unwavering support for our strongest ally and calling for additional assistance to Israel in response to the October 7, 2023 attack.
“The reintroduction of the Maximum Pressure Act is a decisive step toward ensuring Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon or a nuclear weapons capability. FDD Action is proud to support this legislation,” said Nick Stewart, FDD Action’s Senior Director of Government Relations. “By codifying the Trump administration’s proven policy of maximum pressure, this legislation delivers the toughest sanctions ever proposed by Congress to cripple the regime’s ability to terrorize its people and the region. The objective of maximum pressure is clear: complete denuclearization and the permanent, verifiable elimination of Iran’s unconventional weapons threat, along with the full range of its other destructive activities. Until then, unrelenting, comprehensive pressure is the only responsible path forward.”
The Maximum Pressure Act would codify the Trump Administration’s successful maximum pressure campaign on Iran into law by:
- Declaring Iran is responsible for the October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel
- Transferring Iran’s $6 billion ransom payment to the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund
- Removing limits on bounties for the capture of terrorist perpetrators of the October 7 massacre
- Expanding sanctions on Iran’s ballistic missile program and sales to also include Iranian drones
- Requiring Treasury to blacklist all new banks in Iran not already sanctioned
- Requiring a report to Congress on Iranian intelligence and influence activities in the U.S., like the Iran Experts Initiative, and whether Iranian agents have been employed with the U.S. government
- Requiring a report to Congress on whether Iran sanctions relief has freed up resources for Iranian-backed terrorist groups and describing how much those groups have benefited from sanctions relief
- Restricting the President’s ability to abuse waiver and license authorities to lift sanction on Iran
The Maximum Pressure Act was introduced at a press conference today in Washington, D.C., along with a package of national security bills endorsed by the Republican Study Committee. Text of the bill can be found here.
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