The Islamic Revolution Approach

The Islamic Revolution Approach

Strategic role of congress in impose of U.S policies against Iran in era of Obama

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Associate professor Det. of political Science, Allameh Tabtabei University
2 PhD Candidate of International Relations, Allameh Tabtabei University
Abstract
Although the Obama administration was able to carefully apply its sanctions policies against Iran, but many sanctions have been imposed on Iran by Congress. Recognizing the true role of Congress in Iran can make the decision-making process of Iran's foreign policy more effective in dealing with threats. Experiences have shown that whenever Congress has embarked on US policies towards Iran, its behavior toward Iran has been accompanied by more stringent policies. The study seeks to examine the real role of Congress in Obama's time toward Iran to help identify the real elements of the threat to Iran's national interests. The research therefore seeks to answer the question of how much of Congress has played a role in defining US policy toward Iran during Obama's time. Referring to the texts of the hearings and the laws passed by the Congress, the answer is that Congress has played a pivotal role in determining US policy toward Iran and has tried to get the top hand in the matter with the president.
Keywords

دهقانی فیروزآبادی. سید جلال(1389)، سیاست خارجی جمهوری اسلامی ایران، تهران، سمت
Armbruster. Ben, (Dec 3, 2013), “Senator Says New Iran Sanctions Will Empower Hard-Liners In Tehran”, Retrieved From: https://thinkprogress.org/senator-says-new-iran-sanctions-will-empower-hard-liners-in-tehran- 
Armbruster. Ben, (Jan 9, 2014), “Democratic Support For Senate Iran Sanctions Bill Tapers Off”, Retrieved From: https://thinkprogress.org/democratic-support-for-senate-iran-sanctions-bill-tapers-off-
Baker. Peter, ( April 23. 2010), “Companies Feeling More Pressure to Cut Iran Ties”, Retrieved From: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/24/world/middleeast/24sanctions.html , (2016/03/21)
Barack Obama, (January 27, 2009), Interview with Al Arabiya News Channel, Washington DC, http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/01/27/65096.html.  (2016/03/18)
Barack Obama, (June 4, 2009), “Transcript of remarks at Cairo University”, http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-at-Cairo-University-6-04-09/.  (2016/03/18)
“Bipartisan Letter on Iran Sanctions from Senators to Secretary of State Hilary Clinton”, (March 10, 2011), Retrieved from: http://www.iranwatch.org/library/government/united-states/congress/members-letters-reports-statements/bipartisan-letter-iran-sanctions-senators-secretary-state-hilary-clinton, (2016/01/12)
Brown. Hayes, (Dec 20, 2013), “Obama: In New Iran Sanctions Push, Congress Playing ‘Politics Of Trying To Look Tough”, Retrieved from: https://thinkprogress.org/obama-in-new-iran-sanctions-push-congress-playing-politics-of-trying-to-look-tough (2016/04/08)
Cameron, F. (2003). US foreign policy after the Cold War: Global hegemony or reluctant sheriff. New York, Routledge
Carter. R, J. Scott & C. Rowling.(2004), “Setting a Course: Congressional Foreign Policy Entrepreneurs in Post-World War II U.S. Foreign Policy”, International Studies Perspectives, Vol.5, No.3
Carter. R, J. Scott & C. Rowling, (2011), “Striking a Balance. Congress and U.S. Foreign Policy”, in S.W. Hook & J.M. Scott, U.S. Foreign Policy Today. American Renewal?, Washington, D.C., CQPress,
Castiglioni. Claudia, (13 December, 2013), “Obama’s Policy Toward Iran: Comparing First and Second Term”, Italian Institution for International Political Studies, Analysis No. 220, Retrived From: http://www.ispionline.it/en/pubblicazione/obamas-policy-toward-iran-comparing-first-and-second-term-9555, (2016/01/23)
Congressional Record, Nov.17, 2011, S7638 – S7639, Retrived From : https://www.congress.gov, (2016/04/15)
Crabb. Cecil V., Jr and Pat M.Holt. (1992), invitation to Struggle: congress, The President and Foreign Policy, 4th ed. Washington D.C, CQ Press
Crail. Peter. (January 13 . 2010), “House Adopts Iran Oil Sanctions”, Retrived From: http://www.armscontrol.org, (2016/05/11)
Clem. Alan L., (1989), Congress: Powers, Processes and Politics. California, Brooks/Cole Publishing Company
Cushman JR. Charles B.(2006), An Introduction to the U.S. Congress, New York, M.E. Sharpe, Inc.,
Davenport. Kelsey, (October 2015), “UN Security Council Resolutions on Iran”, Arms Control Association, Retrived From: https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/Security-Council-Resolutions-on-Iran, (2016/05/17)
Deutch. Ted,  (July. 23, 2010), “Congress Readies Next Steps for Strengthening Iran Sanctions”, Retrieved From: http://teddeutch.house.gov/news (2016/03/6)
George. Alexander L.(2005) “Domestic Constraints On Regime Change in U.S Foreign Policy: The Need For Policy Legitimacy”, in G. John Ikenberry, American Foreign Policy: Theoretical Essays, Fifth Edition, Princeton University  (pp 333-356)
Glandstone. Rick. (Feb.28, 2013), “Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Measure to Toughen Iranian Sanctions”, New York Times, Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/28, (2016/01/13)
Hersman. Rebecca K. C. (2000) Friends and Foes: How Congress and the President Really Makes Foreign Policy, the Brookings Institution, Washington, D. C.
Hook. Steven W.,(2011), U.S. Foreign Policy: the Paradox of World Power, third edition, Washington, CQ Press.
H.R. 1905 — 112th Congress, (2011- 2012), “Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012”, Retrieved from:  https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr1905, (2015/10/18) 
Kegley Jr. Charles W. and Eugene R. Wittkopf,(1996) American foreign policy: pattern and process, fifth edition, New York, St. Martin s press
LaFranchi, Howard. (2010a. January 16). "Iran Nuclear Program: On Sanctions, Congress Ahead of Obama", Christian Science Monitor, from: http://www.csmonitor.com, (2016/05/21)
LaFranchi. Howard, (2010b. February 10). "Obama Administration Shifts Gears on Iran Sanctions", Christian Science Monitor, Retrieved from: http://www.csmonitor.com, (2016/05/21)
Lindsay, James M. (1994). Congress and the Politics of U.S. Foreign Policy. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
Lynch, Colum, and Thomas Erdbrink. (2010. June 22), "Congress Strikes Deal on Tougher Sanctions for Iran's Suppliers." Washington Post, Retrieved from: http://www.washingtonpost.com, (2016/05/16)
Mann. Thomas, (1990) A Question of Balance: the President, the Congress and Foreign Policy, Washington D.C, the Brookings Institution.
McArthur. Shirl, (September 2012), “Congressional Voting Records, 112th Congress Voting Records”, 1-2 , the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, Retrived from:  http://www.wrmea.org/congress-u.s.-aid-to-israel/congressional-voting-records.html, (2016/01/15)
Nguyen, Hang Thi Thuy, “Theories of US Foreign Policy: An Overview”, World Journal of Social Science, Vol. 1, No. 1; 2014
“President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address”, (January 28, 2014), Retrieved from: https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/01/28/president-barack-obamas-state-union-address, (2016/06/20)
Public Law 112–81, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, 112th  Congress, 112th Cong. (2011- 2012), Retrieved from: https://www.congress.gov/112/plaws/publ81/PLAW-112publ81.pdf, (2015/09/11)
Public Law, 112-239, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, 112th  Congress, 112th Cong. (2011- 2012), Retrieved from: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-112publ239/html/PLAW-112publ239.htm , (2015/09/02)
Public Law 114–17, To provide for congressional review and oversight of agreements relating to Iran’s nuclear program, and for other purposes, (Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015), from: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-114hr1191enr/pdf/BILL, (2015/09/02)
“Remarks by President Obama and Chancellor Merkel of Germany in Joint Press Availability”, (June 26, 2009), http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-By-President-Obama-And-Chancellor-Merkel-Of-Germany-In-Joint-Press-Availability/. (2015/09/26)
Rennack. Dianne E. (2016), “Iran: U.S. Economic Sanctions and the Authority to Lift Restrictions”, Congressional Research Service.
Ripley, Randall B., and James M. Lindsay. (1993). Congress Resurgent: Foreign and Defense Policy on Capitol Hill. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Rogin, Josh. (2012. November 30),"White House Opposed New Iran Sanctions", Foreign Policy, Retrieved from:  http://foreignpolicy.com   (2016/01/26)
Samore. Gary, (2015),  “Sanctions Against Iran: A Guide to Targets, Terms, and Timetables”, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Schafer. Mark ,(2012), “Individual and Group Decision Making”, in Routledge Handbook of American Foreign Policy, New York, Taylor & Francis,pp.132-148
“Senators Kirk, Kyl, and Lieberman write letter to Secretaries Clinton and Geithner Regarding Iran Sanctions Enforcement” , (March 29, 2011), Retrieved from: http://www.iranwatch.org/library/government/united-states/congress/members-letters-reports-statements/senators-kirk-kyl-and-lieberman-write-letter-secretaries-clinton-and , (2015/12/01)
Sorcher. Sara, (December 2, 2011), “White House and Senate Gear Up for Tangle Over Iran Central Bank Sanctions”, Retrieved from: http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/white-house-and-senate-gear-tangle-over-iran-central-bank-sanctions/ , (2016/01/01)
Tama. Jordan,(2015), “Bipartisanship in a Polarized Age: The U.S. Congress and Foreign Policy Sanctions”,  School of International Service, American University, Retrieved from: http://www.american.edu/sis/faculty/tama.cfm , (2016/06/23)
Weinthal. Benjamin, (February 4. 2011), “U.S. Senators Demand that Germany close Iran EIH Bank”, Retrieved from: http://www.weeklystandard.com/, (2015/12/14
Library of Congress , http://www.congress.gov
govtrack.us , http://www.govtrack.us
Addressing Potential Threats from Iran: Administration Perspectives on Implementing New Economic Sanctions One Year Later, Hearing Before the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs United States Senate, 112th Cong. (October 13, 2011), Retrieved from: http://gpo.govfdsys,  (2015/03/20)
Iran: an Update, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Relations United States Senate, 110th Cong. (March 29, 2007), Retrieved From: http://gpo.gov/fdsys  , (2015/03/18)
Iranian Political and Nuclear Realities and United States Policies, Hearings before The Committee on Foreign Relations United States Senate, 111th Cong. (March 3. 2009), ), First Session, Retrieved from http://gpo.govfdsys , (2015/02/11)
Iran Policy in the Aftermath of U.N Sanctions, Hearings before The Committee on Foreign Relations United States Senate, 111th Cong.(June 22, 2010), Second Session, Retrieved from: http://gpo.gov/fdsys , (2015/05/12)
Iran Sanctions: Why Does the U.S Government Do Business with Companies Doing Business in Iran? , Hearing before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs United States Senate, 111th Cong. (May. 12, 2010), Second Session, Retrieved from: http://gpo.gov/fdsys, (2015/06/17)
Iran: Teheran's Nuclear Recklessness and the U.S. Response – The Experts' Perspective, Hearing before the Committee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security Subcommittee United States Senate, 109th Cong. (15 November 2005), First Session, Retrieved from: http://gpo.gov/fdsys, (2015/06/25)
Minimizing Potential Threates from Iran: Assessing Economic Sanctions and other U.S Policy Options, , Hearing before the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, 111th Cong. (July 30.2009), Retrieved from: http://gpo.gov/fdsys, (2015/01/13)
Statement from the House Foreign Affairs Committee on H.R. 1905 , (May 16, 2011), Retrieved from: http://www.iranwatch.org/library/, (2015/07/21)
U.S. Strategic Objectives Towards Iran,  Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Relations United States Senate, 112th Cong. (December.1, 2011),