Title: Countering Iran's Destabilizing Activities Act of 2017
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Countering Iran's Destabilizing Activities Act of 2017
This bill directs the Departments of State, Defense, and Treasury and the Director of National Intelligence to submit a strategy every two years for deterring conventional and asymmetric Iranian activities that threaten the United States and key allies in the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond.
The President shall impose asset blocking and U.S. exclusion sanctions against any person that materially contributes to: (1) Iran's ballistic missile or weapons of mass destruction programs, or (2) the sale or transfer to Iran of specified military equipment or the provision of related technical or financial assistance.
The President shall impose against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and affiliated foreign persons sanctions with respect to blocking property of, and prohibiting transactions with, foreign persons who commit or support terrorism.
The President may impose asset blocking sanctions against any person identified by the State Department as responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against certain individuals in Iran.
The bill requires specified existing sanctions against persons for materially contributing to Iran's ballistic missile program or for supporting Iran's acts of international terrorism to continue until 90 days after the President certifies that such activities ceased during the immediately preceding three-month period.
The bill exempts certain humanitarian and national security activities from sanctions.
The President may temporarily waive the imposition or continuation of sanctions under specified circumstances.
The bill sets forth reporting requirements with respect to: (1) persons contributing to Iran's ballistic missile program, (2) U.S.-European Union sanctions coordination, (3) U.S. citizens detained by Iran, and (4) each use of the waiver authority.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 722 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 722

    To impose sanctions with respect to Iran in relation to Iran's 
ballistic missile program, support for acts of international terrorism, 
        and violations of human rights, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 23, 2017

   Mr. Corker (for himself, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Cardin, Mr. 
  Cotton, Mr. Casey, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Risch, Mr. Coons, Mr. 
 Sullivan, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Young, and Mr. Donnelly) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                           Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To impose sanctions with respect to Iran in relation to Iran's 
ballistic missile program, support for acts of international terrorism, 
        and violations of human rights, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Countering Iran's 
Destabilizing Activities Act of 2017''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Regional strategy for countering conventional and asymmetric 
                            Iranian threats in the Middle East and 
                            North Africa.
Sec. 4. Imposition of additional sanctions in response to Iran's 
                            ballistic missile program.
Sec. 5. Imposition of terrorism-related sanctions with respect to the 
                            IRGC.
Sec. 6. Imposition of additional sanctions with respect to persons 
                            responsible for human rights abuses.
Sec. 7. Enforcement of arms embargos.
Sec. 8. Continuation in effect of sanctions for Iranian support 
                            relating to terrorism.
Sec. 9. Report on coordination of sanctions between the United States 
                            and the European Union.
Sec. 10. Report on United States citizens detained by Iran.
Sec. 11. Exceptions for national security and humanitarian assistance; 
                            rule of construction.
Sec. 12. Presidential waiver authority.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Act of international terrorism.--The term ``act of 
        international terrorism'' has the meaning given that term in 
        section 14 of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-
        172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note).
            (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' has the meaning given 
        that term in section 14 of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 
        (Public Law 104-172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note).
            (3) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means a 
        person that is not a United States person.
            (4) Iranian person.--The term ``Iranian person'' means--
                    (A) an individual who is a citizen or national of 
                Iran; or
                    (B) an entity organized under the laws of Iran or 
                otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the Government 
                of Iran.
            (5) IRGC.--The term ``IRGC'' means Iran's Islamic 
        Revolutionary Guard Corps.
            (6) Knowingly.--The term ``knowingly'' has the meaning 
        given that term in section 14 of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 
        (Public Law 104-172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note).
            (7) Person.--The term ``person'' means an individual or 
        entity.
            (8) United states person.--The term ``United States 
        person'' means--
                    (A) a United States citizen or an alien lawfully 
                admitted for permanent residence to the United States; 
                or
                    (B) an entity organized under the laws of the 
                United States or of any jurisdiction within the United 
                States, including a foreign branch of such an entity.

SEC. 3. REGIONAL STRATEGY FOR COUNTERING CONVENTIONAL AND ASYMMETRIC 
              IRANIAN THREATS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary of 
State, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the 
Director of National Intelligence shall jointly develop and submit to 
the appropriate congressional committees a strategy for deterring 
conventional and asymmetric Iranian activities and threats that 
directly threaten the United States and key allies in the Middle East, 
North Africa, and beyond.
    (b) Elements.--The strategy required by subsection (a) shall 
include at a minimum the following:
            (1) A summary of the near- and long-term United States 
        objectives, plans, and means for countering Iran's 
        destabilizing activities, including identification of countries 
        that share the objective of countering Iran's destabilizing 
        activities.
            (2) A summary of the capabilities and contributions of 
        individual countries to shared efforts to counter Iran's 
        destabilizing activities, and a summary of additional actions 
        or contributions that each country could take to further 
        contribute.
            (3) An assessment of Iran's conventional force capabilities 
        and an assessment of Iran's plans to upgrade its conventional 
        force capabilities, including its acquisition, development, and 
        deployment of ballistic and cruise missile capabilities, 
        unmanned aerial vehicles, and maritime offensive and anti-
        access or area denial capabilities.
            (4) An assessment of Iran's chemical and biological weapons 
        capabilities and an assessment of Iranian plans to upgrade its 
        chemical or biological weapons capabilities.
            (5) An assessment of Iran's asymmetric activities in the 
        region, including--
                    (A) the size, capabilities, and activities of the 
                IRGC, including the Quds Force;
                    (B) the size, capabilities, and activities of 
                Iran's cyber operations;
                    (C) the types and amount of support, including 
                funding, lethal and nonlethal contributions, and 
                training, provided to Hezbollah, Hamas, special groups 
                in Iraq, the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, Houthi 
                fighters in Yemen, and other violent groups across the 
                Middle East; and
                    (D) the scope and objectives of Iran's information 
                operations and use of propaganda.
            (6) A summary of United States actions, unilaterally and in 
        cooperation with foreign governments, to counter destabilizing 
        Iranian activities, including--
                    (A) interdiction of Iranian lethal arms bound for 
                groups designated as foreign terrorist organizations 
                under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality 
                Act (8 U.S.C. 1189);
                    (B) Iran's interference in international commercial 
                shipping lanes;
                    (C) attempts by Iran to undermine or subvert 
                internationally recognized governments in the Middle 
                East region; and
                    (D) Iran's support for the regime of Bashar al-
                Assad in Syria, including--
                            (i) financial assistance, military 
                        equipment and personnel, and other support 
                        provided to that regime; and
                            (ii) support and direction to other armed 
                        actors that are not Syrian or Iranian and are 
                        acting on behalf of that regime.
    (c) Form of Strategy.--The strategy required by subsection (a) 
shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified 
annex.

SEC. 4. IMPOSITION OF ADDITIONAL SANCTIONS IN RESPONSE TO IRAN'S 
              BALLISTIC MISSILE PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The President shall impose the sanctions described 
in subsection (b) with respect to any person that the President 
determines, on or after the date of the enactment of this Act--
            (1) has engaged in any activity that has materially 
        contributed, or poses a risk of materially contributing, to the 
        activities of the Government of Iran with respect to its 
        ballistic missile program, or any other program in Iran for 
        developing, deploying, or maintaining systems capable of 
        delivering weapons of mass destruction, including any efforts 
        to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer, 
        or use such capabilities;
            (2) is a successor entity to a person referred to in 
        paragraph (1);
            (3) owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or is 
        under common ownership or control with, a person referred to in 
        paragraph (1);
            (4) is acting for or on behalf of a person referred to in 
        paragraph (1), (2), or (3); or
            (5) has knowingly provided, or attempted to provide, 
        financial, material, technological, or other support for, or 
        goods or services in support of, a person referred to in 
        paragraph (1), (2), (3), or (4).
    (b) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this 
subsection are the following:
            (1) Blocking of property.--The President shall block, in 
        accordance with the International Emergency Economic Powers Act 
        (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), all transactions in all property and 
        interests in property of any person subject to subsection (a) 
        if such property and interests in property are in the United 
        States, come within the United States, or are or come within 
        the possession or control of a United States person.
            (2) Exclusion from united states.--The Secretary of State 
        shall deny a visa to, and the Secretary of Homeland Security 
        shall exclude from the United States, any person subject to 
        subsection (a) that is an alien.
    (c) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts to violate, 
conspires to violate, or causes a violation of subsection (b)(1) or any 
regulation, license, or order issued to carry out that subsection shall 
be subject to the penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of 
section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 
U.S.C. 1705) to the same extent as a person that commits an unlawful 
act described in subsection (a) of that section.
    (d) Report on Contributions to Iran's Ballistic Missile Program.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the 
        President shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
        committees a report describing each person that--
                    (A) has, during the period specified in paragraph 
                (2), conducted any activity that has materially 
                contributed, or poses a risk of materially 
                contributing, to the activities of the Government of 
                Iran with respect to its ballistic missile program, or 
                any other program in Iran for developing, deploying, or 
                maintaining systems capable of delivering weapons of 
                mass destruction, including any efforts to manufacture, 
                acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer, or use 
                such capabilities;
                    (B) is a successor entity to a person referred to 
                in subparagraph (A);
                    (C) owns or controls, is owned or controlled by, or 
                is under common ownership or control with, a person 
                referred to in subparagraph (A);
                    (D) is acting for or on behalf of a person referred 
                to in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C); or
                    (E) is known or believed to have provided, or 
                attempted to provide, during the period specified in 
                paragraph (2), financial, material, technological, or 
                other support for, or goods or services in support of, 
                any material contribution to a program described in 
                subparagraph (A) carried out by a person described in 
                subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D).
            (2) Period specified.--The period specified in this 
        paragraph is--
                    (A) in the case of the first report submitted under 
                paragraph (1), the period beginning on July 14, 2015, 
                and ending on the date the report is submitted; and
                    (B) in the case of a subsequent such report, the 
                180-day period preceding the submission of the report.
            (3) Form of report.--Each report required by paragraph (1) 
        shall be submitted in unclassified form but may include a 
        classified annex.

SEC. 5. IMPOSITION OF TERRORISM-RELATED SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE 
              IRGC.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The IRGC is subject to sanctions pursuant to Executive 
        Order 13382 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking property 
        of weapons of mass destruction delivery system proliferators 
        and their supporters), the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, 
        Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8501 et 
        seq.), Executive Order 13553 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to 
        blocking property of certain persons with respect to serious 
        human rights abuses by the Government of Iran), and Executive 
        Order 13606 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking the 
        property and suspending entry into the United States of certain 
        persons with respect to grave human rights abuses by the 
        Governments of Iran and Syria via information technology).
            (2) The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (in 
        this section referred to as the ``IRGC-QF'') is the primary arm 
        of the Government of Iran for executing its policy of 
        supporting terrorist and insurgent groups. The IRGC-QF provides 
        material, logistical assistance, training, and financial 
        support to militants and terrorist operatives throughout the 
        Middle East and South Asia and was designated for the 
        imposition of sanctions by the Secretary of the Treasury 
        pursuant to Executive Order 13224 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; 
        relating to blocking property and prohibiting transactions with 
        persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism) 
        in October 2007 for its support of terrorism.
            (3) The IRGC, not just the IRGC-QF, is responsible for 
        implementing Iran's international program of destabilizing 
        activities, support for acts of international terrorism, and 
        ballistic missile program.
    (b) In General.--Beginning on the date that is 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall impose the 
sanctions described in subsection (c) with respect to the IRGC and 
foreign persons that are officials, agents, or affiliates of the IRGC.
    (c) Sanctions Described.--The sanctions described in this 
subsection are sanctions applicable with respect to a foreign person 
pursuant to Executive Order 13224 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to 
blocking property and prohibiting transactions with persons who commit, 
threaten to commit, or support terrorism).

SEC. 6. IMPOSITION OF ADDITIONAL SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO PERSONS 
              RESPONSIBLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of State 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a list of each 
person the Secretary determines, based on credible evidence--
            (1) has been responsible for extrajudicial killings, 
        torture, or other gross violations of internationally 
        recognized human rights committed against individuals in Iran 
        who seek--
                    (A) to expose illegal activity carried out by 
                officials of the Government of Iran; or
                    (B) to obtain, exercise, defend, or promote 
                internationally recognized human rights and freedoms, 
                such as the freedoms of religion, expression, 
                association, and assembly, and the rights to a fair 
                trial and democratic elections; and
            (2) has acted as an agent of or on behalf of a foreign 
        person in a matter relating to an activity described in 
        paragraph (1).
    (b) Sanctions Described.--
            (1) In general.--The President may, in accordance with the 
        International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et 
        seq.), block all transactions in all property and interests in 
        property of a person on the list required by subsection (a) if 
        such property and interests in property are in the United 
        States, come within the United States, or are or come within 
        the possession or control of a United States person.
            (2) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts to 
        violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of 
        paragraph (1) or any regulation, license, or order issued to 
        carry out paragraph (1) shall be subject to the penalties set 
        forth in subsections (b) and (c) of section 206 of the 
        International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) to 
        the same extent as a person that commits an unlawful act 
        described in subsection (a) of that section.

SEC. 7. ENFORCEMENT OF ARMS EMBARGOS.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (d), the 
President shall impose the sanctions described in subsection (b) with 
respect to any person that--
            (1) engages in any activity that materially contributes to 
        the supply, sale, or transfer directly or indirectly to or from 
        Iran, or for the use in or benefit of Iran, of any battle 
        tanks, armored combat vehicles, large caliber artillery 
        systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, 
        missiles or missile systems, as defined for the purpose of the 
        United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, or related 
        materiel, including spare parts; or
            (2) provides to Iran any technical training, financial 
        resources or services, advice, other services or assistance 
        related to the supply, sale, transfer, manufacture, 
        maintenance, or use of arms and related materiel described in 
        paragraph (1).
    (b) Sanctions Described.--
            (1) Blocking of property.--The President shall block, in 
        accordance with the International Emergency Economic Powers Act 
        (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), all transactions in all property and 
        interests in property of any person subject to subsection (a) 
        if such property and interests in property are in the United 
        States, come within the United States, or are or come within 
        the possession or control of a United States person.
            (2) Exclusion from united states.--The Secretary of State 
        shall deny a visa to, and the Secretary of Homeland Security 
        shall exclude from the United States, any person subject to 
        subsection (a) that is an alien.
    (c) Penalties.--A person that violates, attempts to violate, 
conspires to violate, or causes a violation of subsection (b)(1) or any 
regulation, license, or order issued to carry out that subsection shall 
be subject to the penalties set forth in subsections (b) and (c) of 
section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 
U.S.C. 1705) to the same extent as a person that commits an unlawful 
act described in subsection (a) of that section.
    (d) Exception.--The President is not required to impose sanctions 
under subsection (a) with respect to a person for engaging in an 
activity described in that subsection if the President certifies to the 
appropriate congressional committees that--
            (1) permitting the activity is in the national security 
        interest of the United States;
            (2) Iran no longer presents a significant threat to the 
        national security of the United States and to the allies of the 
        United States; and
            (3) the Government of Iran has ceased providing operational 
        or financial support for acts of international terrorism and no 
        longer satisfies the requirements for designation as a state 
        sponsor of terrorism.
    (e) State Sponsor of Terrorism Defined.--In this section, the term 
``state sponsor of terrorism'' means a country the government of which 
the Secretary of State has determined to be a government that has 
repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism for 
purposes of--
            (1) section 6(j)(1)(A) of the Export Administration Act of 
        1979 (50 U.S.C. 4605(j)(1)(A)) (as continued in effect pursuant 
        to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 
        1701 et seq.));
            (2) section 620A(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
        (22 U.S.C. 2371(a));
            (3) section 40(d) of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 
        2780(d)); or
            (4) any other provision of law.

SEC. 8. CONTINUATION IN EFFECT OF SANCTIONS FOR IRANIAN SUPPORT 
              RELATING TO TERRORISM.

    (a) In General.--United States sanctions imposed with respect to a 
person under Executive Order 13382 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to 
blocking property of weapons of mass destruction delivery system 
proliferators and their supporters) or Executive Order 13224 (50 U.S.C. 
1701 note; relating to blocking property and prohibiting transactions 
with persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism), and 
imposed as a result of activities described in subsection (b), that are 
in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, 
shall remain in effect until the date that is 90 days after the date on 
which the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees 
the certification described in subsection (c) with respect to the 
person.
    (b) Activities Described.--An activity described in this subsection 
is--
            (1) any activity that materially contributes to the 
        activities of the Government of Iran with respect to its 
        ballistic missile program; or
            (2) support by the Government of Iran for acts of 
        international terrorism.
    (c) Certification.--
            (1) In general.--A certification described in this 
        subsection is a certification that the person with respect to 
        which sanctions were imposed under Executive Order 13382 or 
        Executive Order 13224 has not, during the 3-month period 
        immediately preceding the date of the certification, provided 
        support for or otherwise facilitated or engaged in any activity 
        described in subsection (b).
            (2) Submission to congress.--
                    (A) In general.--The President shall submit the 
                certification described in paragraph (1) to the 
                appropriate congressional committees in writing and 
                shall include a detailed justification for the 
                certification.
                    (B) Form of certification.--The certification 
                described in paragraph (1) shall be submitted in 
                unclassified form but may include a classified annex.
    (d) Reimposition.--If sanctions are suspended with respect to a 
person under this section, such sanctions shall be reinstated if the 
President determines that the person has resumed any activity described 
in subsection (b).

SEC. 9. REPORT ON COORDINATION OF SANCTIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES 
              AND THE EUROPEAN UNION.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the President 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that 
includes the following:
            (1) A description of each instance, during the period 
        specified in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in which the United States has imposed 
                sanctions with respect to a person for activity related 
                to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or 
                delivery systems for such weapons to or by Iran, 
                support for acts of international terrorism by Iran, or 
                human rights abuses in Iran, but in which the European 
                Union has not imposed corresponding sanctions; and
                    (B) in which the European Union has imposed 
                sanctions with respect to a person for activity related 
                to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or 
                delivery systems for such weapons to or by Iran, 
                support for acts of international terrorism by Iran, or 
                human rights abuses in Iran, but in which the United 
                States has not imposed corresponding sanctions.
            (2) An explanation for the reason for each discrepancy 
        between sanctions imposed by the European Union and sanctions 
        imposed by the United States described in subparagraphs (A) and 
        (B) of paragraph (1).
    (b) Period Specified.--The period specified in this subsection is--
            (1) in the case of the first report submitted under 
        subsection (a), the period beginning on September 1, 2009, and 
        ending on the date the report is submitted; and
            (2) in the case of a subsequent such report, the 180-day 
        period preceding the submission of the report.
    (c) Form of Report.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form but may include a classified annex.

SEC. 10. REPORT ON UNITED STATES CITIZENS DETAINED BY IRAN.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the President 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on 
United States citizens, including United States citizens who are also 
citizens of other countries, detained by Iran or groups supported by 
Iran that includes--
            (1) information regarding any officials of the Government 
        of Iran involved in any way in the detentions; and
            (2) a summary of efforts the United States Government has 
        taken to secure the swift release of those United States 
        citizens.
    (b) Form of Report.--The report required by subsection (a) shall be 
submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

SEC. 11. EXCEPTIONS FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE; 
              RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    (a) In General.--The following activities shall be exempt from 
sanctions under sections 4, 5, 6, and 7:
            (1) Any activity subject to the reporting requirements 
        under title V of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 
        3091 et seq.), or to any authorized intelligence activities of 
        the United States.
            (2) The admission of an alien to the United States if such 
        admission is necessary to comply with United States obligations 
        under the Agreement between the United Nations and the United 
        States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United 
        Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into 
        force November 21, 1947, or under the Convention on Consular 
        Relations, done at Vienna April 24, 1963, and entered into 
        force March 19, 1967.
            (3) The conduct or facilitation of a transaction for the 
        sale of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, or medical 
        devices to Iran or for the provision of humanitarian assistance 
        to the people of Iran, including engaging in a financial 
        transaction relating to humanitarian assistance or for 
        humanitarian purposes, transporting goods or services that are 
        necessary to carry out operations relating to humanitarian 
        assistance or humanitarian purposes, and having merely 
        incidental contact, in the course of providing humanitarian 
        assistance or aid for humanitarian purposes, with individuals 
        who are under the control of a foreign person subject to 
        sanctions under this Act.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Agricultural commodity.--The term ``agricultural 
        commodity'' has the meaning given that term in section 102 of 
        the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602).
            (2) Medical device.--The term ``medical device'' has the 
        meaning given the term ``device'' in section 201 of the Federal 
        Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
            (3) Medicine.--The term ``medicine'' has the meaning given 
        the term ``drug'' in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and 
        Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321).
    (c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed 
to limit the authority of the President to designate persons for the 
imposition of sanctions pursuant to the International Emergency 
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).

SEC. 12. PRESIDENTIAL WAIVER AUTHORITY.

    (a) Case-by-Case Waiver Authority.--
            (1) In general.--The President may waive, on a case-by-case 
        basis and for a period of not more than 180 days, a requirement 
        under section 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 to impose or maintain sanctions 
        with respect to a person, and may waive the continued 
        imposition of such sanctions, not less than 30 days after the 
        President determines and reports to the appropriate 
        congressional committees that it is vital to the national 
        security interests of the United States to waive such 
        sanctions.
            (2) Renewal of waivers.--The President may, on a case-by-
        case basis, renew a waiver under paragraph (1) for an 
        additional period of not more than 180 days if, not later than 
        15 days before that waiver expires, the President makes the 
        determination and submits to the appropriate congressional 
        committees a report described in paragraph (1).
            (3) Successive renewal.--The renewal authority provided 
        under paragraph (2) may be exercised for additional successive 
        periods of not more than 180 days if the President follows the 
        procedures set forth in paragraph (2), and submits the report 
        described in paragraph (1), for each such renewal.
    (b) Contents of Waiver Reports.--Each report submitted under 
subsection (a) in connection with a waiver of sanctions under section 
4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 with respect to a person, or the renewal of such a 
waiver, shall include--
            (1) a specific and detailed rationale for the determination 
        that the waiver is vital to the national security interests of 
        the United States;
            (2) a description of the activity that resulted in the 
        person being subject to sanctions;
            (3) an explanation of the efforts made by the United States 
        to secure the cooperation of the government with primary 
        jurisdiction over the person or the location where the activity 
        described in paragraph (2) occurred in terminating or, as 
        appropriate, penalizing the activity; and
            (4) an assessment of the significance of the activity 
        described in paragraph (2) in contributing to the ability of 
        Iran to threaten the interests of the United States or allies 
        of the United States, develop systems capable of delivering 
        weapons of mass destruction, support acts of international 
        terrorism, or violate the human rights of any person in Iran.
    (c) Effect of Report on Waiver.--If the President submits a report 
under subsection (a) in connection with a waiver of sanctions under 
section 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 with respect to a person, or the renewal of 
such a waiver, the President shall not be required to impose or 
maintain sanctions under section 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8, as applicable, with 
respect to the person described in the report during the 30-day period 
referred to in subsection (a).
                                 <all>