(1) According to the Report of the National
Commission on Terrorism released in June 2000,
pursuant to Public Law 105–277, ‘‘Iran remains the
most active state supporter of terrorism. Despite the
election of reformist President Khatami in 1997, the
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and Ministry of
Intelligence and Security have continued to be in-
volved in the planning and execution of terrorist
acts.’’.
(2) According to the Central Intelligence Agen-
cy’s most recent proliferation report, pursuant to
section 721 of the Fiscal Year 1997 Intelligence Au-
thorization Act, ‘‘Iran remains one of the most ac-
tive countries seeking to acquire Weapons of Mass
Destruction (WMD) and Advanced Conventional
Weapons (ACW) technology from abroad. In so
doing, Iran is attempting to develop an indigenous
capability to produce various types of weapons—nu-
clear, chemical, and biological and their delivery sys-
tems.’’.
(3) On July 16, 2000, Iran successfully test-
fired its Shahab-3 missile, a medium-range weapon
capable of delivering a nuclear, biological, and chem-
ical payload.
(4) Iran’s recent trial and conviction of 10 Ira-
nian Jews accused of spying on behalf of Israel was
only the most recent example of Iran’s egregious
mistreatment of minorities and brazen violations of
international human rights standards and due proc-
ess of law.
(5) Prior to the verdict, United States Sec-
retary of State Madeleine K. Albright referred to the
treatment of the Jews on trial in Iran as ‘‘a critical
barometer of United States-Iran relations’’.
(6) In March 2000, the President of the United
States partially lifted an import ban to permit the
importation of Iranian textiles and food products,
such as carpets, dried fruits, nuts, and caviar, which
account for Iran’s second largest source of hard-cur-
rency earnings. This gesture was intended as good-
will efforts toward improving relations between the
United States and Iran.
(7) This gesture was premature since Iran has
not shown signs of respecting the rights of minori-
ties within Iran, has not ended its support for inter-
national terrorism, and has not terminated weapons
of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs.
SEC. 2. IMMEDIATELY ENDING THE UNITED STATES IMPOR-
TATION OF IRANIAN GOODS.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law and ex-
cept as provided in section 3, no textile or food article that
is produced, grown, or manufactured in Iran shall enter
or be imported into the United States.
SEC. 3. CONDITIONS FOR THE RESUMPTION OF UNITED
STATES IMPORTATION OF IRANIAN GOODS.
(a) GENERAL WAIVER.—Except as provided in sub-
section (b), the President may waive the prohibition on
the importation of Iranian goods to the United States 90
days after submitting a certification to the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on
International Relations of the House of Representatives
stating that—
(1) Iran has shown substantial progress in re-
specting the rights of ethnic and religious minorities
and is meeting internationally recognized human
rights standards including due process under law;
(2) Iran has ceased its support for international
terrorism; and
(3) Iran has terminated its weapons of mass
destruction and ballistic missile programs.
(b) NATIONAL SECURITY INTEREST WAIVER.—If the
President determines that it is in the national security in-
terests of the United States to do so, the President may
waive the prohibition on the importation of Iranian goods
90 days after submitting a certification to the congres-
sional committees described in subsection (a) stating that
Iran meets the requirements of subsection (a)(1).
Æ