Republicans Unveil Sweeping 10-Bill Sanctions Package Aimed at Crippling Iran’s Regime

By Ahora Qadi 

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced a sweeping ten-bill sanctions package designed to institutionalize President Donald Trump’s "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran, according to documents obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.

The proposed legislation, spearheaded by the Republican Study Committee (RSC)—the largest GOP caucus in Congress—seeks to permanently constrain Iran’s access to global financial systems, sanction its top leadership, and dismantle its network of regional militias, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.

“This is the most comprehensive Iran sanctions package ever proposed by Congress,” said Rep. August Pfluger, chairman of the RSC. “We are moving with urgency to codify these measures to ensure Iran can never again exploit diplomatic shifts in Washington to escape accountability.”

Codifying Trump’s Iran Doctrine

At the heart of the package is the Maximum Pressure Act, authored by Rep. Zach Nunn, which mirrors Trump’s February 2025 executive order reinstating harsh sanctions against Iran. The legislation would transform those executive actions into permanent law, making it significantly more difficult for any future administration to lift or alter the restrictions without congressional approval.

“Iran’s direct assaults on global security and American leadership will no longer go unanswered,” Nunn stated, emphasizing the need for durable legislative tools against Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

Another key measure, led by Rep. Pfluger, would eliminate the executive branch’s ability to issue sanctions waivers—one of the primary avenues the Biden administration used to ease economic pressure. Notably, the administration allowed Tehran access to over $10 billion in Iraqi-held electricity payments through such waivers.

That bill previously passed the House in the last session by a vote of 259 to 160 and is expected to receive similar support again.

Targeting Tehran’s Terror Network

The package also includes legislation designed to stifle Iran’s revenue from its energy exports, a major source of funding for its regional proxy groups. Pfluger’s No Iranian Energy Act specifically targets the importation of Iranian natural gas to Iraq—another key revenue channel.

Additional measures would:

• Sanction the Supreme Leader of Iran and key regime officials.
• Codify the designation of the Houthi rebels as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), reviving a Trump-era classification that was reversed under Biden.
• Mandate full enforcement of sanctions on Iran’s oil sales, which have surged to historic highs under the current administration.

“By locking in maximum pressure, Republicans are signaling that the Iranian regime needs to come to the table or face crippling pressure indefinitely,” said a senior congressional aide familiar with the strategy.

Blocking a Future Sanctions Reversal

The legislative initiative is aimed not only at punishing Iran but also at preventing future administrations—especially Democratic ones—from reversing course as President Biden did during his term.

“There’s no daylight between House leadership and what we’ve put forward,” Rep. Pfluger said. “Iran is edging closer to nuclear breakout, and diplomacy has failed. This package gives us leverage.”

Although the House appears poised to pass the bills, the path in the Senate is more complex due to the 60-vote threshold required to advance legislation. However, Republican Senators Ted Cruz, Tom Cotton, and Jim Banks are reportedly in talks to sponsor the companion measures.

“The mullahs still think they can wait out American pressure,” the congressional aide added. “This package sends a clear message: That era is over.”

A New Era of Deterrence

Republicans see the package as more than punitive—it’s also strategic. As Tehran continues to back regional instability, arm proxy militias, and defy international inspections, GOP lawmakers argue that a robust and irreversible sanctions regime is essential to protect U.S. allies and maintain regional equilibrium.

“This is not just about Iran,” Pfluger said. “It’s about showing the world that the United States will not tolerate aggression—whether it’s in Gaza, Yemen, Lebanon, or the Strait of Hormuz.”

With the support of President Trump and top GOP figures, the effort reflects a broader Republican goal: to ensure the “maximum pressure” doctrine becomes the enduring cornerstone of U.S. policy toward Iran.