Biden extends the state of emergency against Iran

US President Joe Biden ordered the extension of the “national emergency” related to Iran for another year, stressing the maintenance of comprehensive sanctions against Tehran to respond to the threat it poses to American national security.

Biden sent a message to Congress regarding the continuation of the law signed by the administration of former President Bill Clinton on March 15, 1995.

He said in his letter that “the actions and policies of the Iranian government continue to pose an unusual and exceptional threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.”

Biden stressed that “it is necessary to continue the (national emergency) declared in Executive Order No. (12957) with respect to Iran and to maintain comprehensive sanctions against Iran to respond to this threat.”

The “national emergency” was first declared by former President Bill Clinton in an executive order on March 15, 1995, based on “the extraordinary threats created by the actions and policies of the Iranian government against the national interests and U.S. foreign policy; Including missile development, support for terrorist groups, malign activities by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, regional destabilization, and possession of weapons of mass destruction.

About two months later, on May 6, 1995, Clinton signed another executive order to impose sanctions on Iran, which were considered among the most severe in response to its nuclear program and its support for groups such as “Hezbollah,” “Hamas,” and “Islamic Jihad,” which the United States considers Terrorist organizations. Clinton also issued an executive order to stop commercial transactions between the United States and Iran.

Since the imposition of the “state of emergency” against Iran during the Clinton era, successive US administrations have continued to extend the “state of emergency,” as this measure grants broad powers to impose sanctions or other punitive measures. The United States imposed a series of sanctions on Iran.

In a recent report, US intelligence agencies warned that Iran will continue to pose a threat to the United States and its allies even after the end of the conflict in Gaza, and warned against Iran arming its proxies who will continue to threaten the United States.