I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1477
To withhold voluntary proportional assistance for programs and projects of
the International Atomic Energy Agency relating to the development
and completion of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, and for
other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL 20, 1999
Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. DEUTSCH, Mr. SHOWS, Mr. BROWN of Ohio,
Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. FRANKS
of New Jersey, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Mr. PASCRELL,
Mr. SAXTON, Mr. PALLONE, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Mr. SHER-
MAN, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. KING, Mr. MALONEY of Connecticut, Mr. CROW-
LEY, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. FROST, Mr. GONZALEZ, Ms. WOOLSEY, Ms.
KAPTUR, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. KENNEDY of
Rhode Island, Mr. STARK, Ms. NORTON, Mr. SMITH of Washington, and
Ms. SLAUGHTER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on International Relations
A BILL
To withhold voluntary proportional assistance for programs
and projects of the International Atomic Energy Agency
relating to the development and completion of the
Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, and for other pur-
poses.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Iran Nuclear Prolifera-
tion Prevention Act of 1999’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Iran remains the world’s leading sponsor of
international terrorism and is on the Department of
State’s list of countries that provide support for acts
of international terrorism.
(2) Iran has repeatedly called for the destruc-
tion of Israel and Iran supports organizations, such
as Hizballah, Hamas, and the Palestine Islamic
Jihad, which are responsible for terrorist attacks
against Israel.
(3) Iranian officials have stated their intent to
complete at least three nuclear power plants by 2015
and are currently working to complete the Bushehr
nuclear power plant located on the Persian Gulf
coast.
(4) The United States has publicly opposed the
completion of reactors at the Bushehr nuclear power
plant because the transfer of civilian nuclear tech-
nology and training could help to advance Iran’s nu-
clear weapons program.
(5) In an April 1997 hearing before the Sub-
committee on Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs
of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Sen-
ate, the former Director of the Central Intelligence
Agency, James Woolsey, stated that through the op-
eration of the nuclear power reactor at the Bushehr
nuclear power plant, Iran will develop substantial ex-
pertise relevant to the development of nuclear weap-
ons.
(6) Construction of the Bushehr nuclear power
plant was halted following the 1979 revolution in
Iran because the former West Germany refused to
assist in the completion of the plant due to concerns
that completion of the plant could provide Iran with
expertise and technology which could advance Iran’s
nuclear weapons program.
(7) 
In 
January 
1995 
Iran 
signed 
a
$780,000,000 contract with the Russian Federation
for Atomic Energy (MINATOM) to complete a
VVER–1000 pressurized-light water reactor at the
Bushehr nuclear power plant and in November
1998, Iran and Russia signed a protocol to expedite
the construction of the nuclear reactor, setting a
new timeframe of 52 months for its completion.
(8) In November 1998, Iran asked Russia to
prepare a feasibility study to build three more nu-
clear reactors at the Bushehr site.
(9) Iran is building up its offensive military ca-
pacity in other areas as evidenced by its recent test-
ing of engines for ballistic missiles capable of car-
rying 2,200 pound warheads more than 800 miles,
within range of strategic targets in Israel.
(10) Iran ranks tenth among the 105 nations
receiving assistance from the technical cooperation
program of the International Atomic Energy Agen-
cy.
(11) Between 1995 and 1999, the International
Atomic Energy Agency has provided and is expected
to provide a total of $1,550,000 through its Tech-
nical Assistance and Cooperation Fund for the Ira-
nian nuclear power program, including reactors at
the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
(12) In 1999 the International Atomic Energy
Agency initiated a program to assist Iran in the area
of uranium exploration. At the same time it is be-
lieved that Iran is seeking to acquire the requisite
technology to enrich uranium to weapons-grade lev-
els.
(13) The United States provides annual con-
tributions to the International Atomic Energy Agen-
cy which total more than 25 percent of the annual
assessed budget of the Agency and the United
States also provides annual voluntary contributions
to the Technical Assistance and Cooperation Fund
of the Agency which total approximately 32 percent
($18,250,000 in 1999) of the annual budget of the
program.
(14) The United States should not voluntarily
provide funding for the completion of nuclear power
reactors which could provide Iran with substantial
expertise to advance its nuclear weapons program
and potentially pose a threat to the United States or
its allies.
(15) Iran has no need for nuclear energy be-
cause of its immense oil and natural gas reserves
which are equivalent to 9.3 percent of the world’s re-
serves and Iran has 73,000,000,000 cubic feet of
natural gas, an amount second only to the natural
gas reserves of Russia.
SEC. 3. WITHHOLDING OF VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO
THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGEN-
CY FOR PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS IN IRAN.
Section 307 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
(22 U.S.C. 2227) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
‘‘(d) Notwithstanding subsection (c), the limitations
of subsection (a) shall apply to programs and projects of
the International Atomic Energy Agency in Iran, unless
the Secretary of State makes a determination in writing
to the Committee on International Relations of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions of the Senate that such programs and projects are
consistent with United States nuclear nonproliferation and
safety goals, will not provide Iran with training or exper-
tise relevant to the development of nuclear weapons, and
are not being used as a cover for the acquisition of sen-
sitive nuclear technology. A determination made by the
Secretary of State under the preceding sentence shall be
effective for the 1-year period beginning on the date of
the determination.’’.
SEC. 4. ANNUAL REVIEW BY SECRETARY OF STATE OF PRO-
GRAMS 
AND 
PROJECTS 
OF 
THE 
INTER-
NATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY; UNITED
STATES OPPOSITION TO PROGRAMS AND
PROJECTS OF THE AGENCY IN IRAN.
(a) ANNUAL REVIEW.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall
undertake a comprehensive annual review of all pro-
grams and projects of the International Atomic En-
ergy Agency in the countries described in section
307(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22
U.S.C. 2227(a)) and shall determine if such pro-
grams and projects are consistent with United
States nuclear nonproliferation and safety goals.
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the
date of the enactment of this Act and on an annual
basis thereafter for 5 years, the Secretary shall pre-
pare and submit to the Congress a report containing
the results of the review under paragraph (1).
(b) OPPOSITION
TO
CERTAIN
PROGRAMS
AND
PROJECTS OF INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGEN-
CY.—The Secretary of State shall direct the United States
representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency
to oppose programs of the Agency that are determined by
the Secretary under the review conducted under sub-
section (a)(1) to be inconsistent with nuclear nonprolifera-
tion and safety goals of the United States.
SEC. 5. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act and on an annual basis
thereafter for 5 years, the Secretary of State, in consulta-
tion with the United States representative to the Inter-
national Atomic Energy Agency, shall prepare and submit
to the Congress a report that—
(1) describes the total amount of annual assist-
ance to Iran from the International Atomic Energy
Agency, a list of Iranian officials in leadership posi-
tions at the Agency, the expected timeframe for the
completion of the nuclear power reactors at the
Bushehr nuclear power plant, and a summary of the
nuclear materials and technology transferred to Iran
from the Agency in the preceding year which could
assist in the development of Iran’s nuclear weapons
program; and
(2) contains a description of all programs and
projects of the International Atomic Energy Agency
in each country described in section 307(a) of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2227(a))
and any inconsistencies between the technical co-
operation and assistance programs and projects of
the Agency and United States nuclear nonprolifera-
tion and safety goals in these countries.
(b) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT.—The report re-
quired to be submitted under subsection (a) shall be sub-
mitted in an unclassified form, to the extent appropriate,
but may include a classified annex.
SEC. 7. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.
It is the sense of the Congress that the United States
Government should pursue internal reforms at the Inter-
national Atomic Energy Agency that will ensure that all
programs and projects funded under the Technical Co-
operation and Assistance Fund of the Agency are compat-
ible with United States nuclear nonproliferation policy and
international nuclear nonproliferation norms.
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