Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Iran, by failing to adhere to international maritime law, ignoring United Nations resolutions, and conducting military operations in a manner that raises tensions within the Arabian Gulf, has undermined stability in the Arabian Gulf, raised the danger of inadvertent escalation, and increased the risk to members of the United States Armed Forces overseas.

Bill: 114-hres-709
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Forbes, J. Randy [R-VA-4]
Introduced: 2016-04-28
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Arms control and nonproliferation

International law and treaties

Iran

Middle East

Military operations and strategy

Persian Gulf

Sanctions
Latest action: action_date: 2016-04-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-04-28
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the actions of Iranian military and paramilitary forces in the Arabian Gulf undermined Gulf stability, raised the danger of escalation, and increased the risk to members of the U.S. Armed Forces.</p> <p> Calls on Iranian military and paramilitary forces to act in accordance with international law for conduct at sea.</p> <p> Urges the Administration to strongly respond to instances of dangerous behavior by Iranian forces.</p> <p> Declares that the House pledges to consider such behavior when considering legislation that pertains to Iran, including sanctions and arms control agreements.</p>

tv_txt: IV 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 709 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 28, 2016 Mr. Forbes submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Iran, by failing to adhere to international maritime law, ignoring United Nations resolutions, and conducting military operations in a manner that raises tensions within the Arabian Gulf, has undermined stability in the Arabian Gulf, raised the danger of inadvertent escalation, and increased the risk to members of the United States Armed Forces overseas.

Whereas Iranian military and paramilitary vessels have repeatedly behaved in a dangerous and unprofessional manner in close proximity to naval vessels and commercial shipping operating in internationally recognized maritime traffic lanes; Whereas Iranian forces did conduct live firing exercises within 1500 yards of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman in December 2015; Whereas Iranian military aircraft flew over the Harry S. Truman and the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in January 2016; Whereas, on January 12, 2016, Iranian forces illegally boarded and detained at gunpoint the crews of two U.S. Navy riverine combat boats that were in distress; Whereas Iranian actions on January 12 violated international maritime law and practice regarding the right of innocent passage and the sovereign immunity of naval vessels; and Whereas United States Armed Forces in the Arabian Gulf have continuously acted in accordance with international law and maritime practice, to include assisting Iranian mariners in distress: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) believes that the actions of Iranian military and paramilitary forces in the Arabian Gulf undermined stability in the Arabian Gulf, raised the danger of inadvertent escalation and increased the risk to members of the United States Armed Forces overseas; (2) calls on the military and paramilitary forces of Iran to act in accordance with international law and standards for conduct at sea; (3) urges the Administration to strongly respond to past and future instances of dangerous and unprofessional behavior by Iranian forces; and (4) pledges to consider the behavior of Iranian military and paramilitary forces, along with other relevant considerations, when considering or debating any legislation that pertains to Iran, including sanctions and arms control agreements.