Bill seeks to address Iranian regime corruption exposure

U.S. Reps. David Kustoff (R-TN) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) recently reintroduced the Stop Corrupt Iranian Oligarchs and Entities Act to address Iranian regime corruption via a compiled list of Iranian oligarchs and entities profiting off the Iranian people.

“Over the years, the world has witnessed Iran become a state sponsor of terrorism, commit horrific human rights abuses, build up its nuclear weapons capability, and endanger our most important ally and friend in the Middle East, Israel, through acts of terrorism,” Kustoff said. “It is no secret that as the brave Iranian people suffer on a daily basis, their leaders have amassed tremendous personal wealth from their positions, funneling funds to terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Enough is enough — we cannot allow Iranian belligerence to continue and escalate.”

Legislation proponents noted it would direct the Department of the Treasury, in consultation with the Department of State and Director of National Intelligence, to identify Iranian oligarchs and entities. Iranian oligarchs and foreign political figures are determined by their closeness to the Iranian regime and their net worth.

“Ordinary Iranian citizens have long suffered at the hands of the corrupt Iranian regime,” Gottheimer said. “Democratic protests in Iran have now lasted more than 100 days, and the Khamenei regime has continued its brutal crackdown on innocent demonstrators. The Ayatollah and his cronies continue to fund foreign adventurism and heinous terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, all while enriching corrupt, regime-connected officials at their expense.”

Gottheimer said the measure would create a public report exposing Iranian leaders’ corruption, distortion, and mismanagement of Iran’s economy that includes funding foreign terrorist organizations threatening the United States and allies such as Israel.