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Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ohio 13th Congressional District Congresswoman Emilia Sykes (OH‑13), an Akron Democrat and one of three Black women in Congress from Ohio, is proud to see the Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 pass the House of Representatives, given that she is a co-sponsor of the bipartisan bill that strengthens enforcement of U.S. sanctions on Iran's illicit oil trade.
The Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025 passed the House on Monday and now heads to the Senate for consideration, where it is likely to pass, partly due to escalating Middle East conflicts.
Proponents of the bill argue that Iran's oil trade, particularly amid conflict, including the current war in Iran, hurts the U.S. by destabilizing global markets, driving up U.S. gasoline prices, and undermining previous and current sanctions. As a major player in the Hormuz region, Iran's efforts to evade sanctions and its ability to disrupt oil shipping lanes drive up global crude costs. This surge in global oil prices directly increases U.S. fuel costs.
"Iran should not be able to profit from illicit oil sales while continuing to destabilize the region," said Rep. Sykes. "I'm glad to see this bipartisan bill advance, ensuring sanctions are fully enforced and holding accountable those who help the regime evade them."
The bill targets foreign entities that facilitate Iran's oil investments in violation of U.S. sanctions, including financial institutions, insurers, shipping registries, and companies involved in energy infrastructure linked to the regime's exports. It also directs the State Department to establish an interagency working group on Iranian sanctions to work with international partners to better coordinate enforcement efforts.
As of March 2026, the U.S. and Israel have been engaged in a major ongoing military conflict with Iran, precipitated by strikes on February 28 to destroy Iranian military, naval, and nuclear capabilities.
Initiated by President Trump without congressional approval as required by the Constitution, the operation by the US military, dubbed "Operation Epic Fury," has caused significant damage and casualties.
Iran responded with continual retaliatory strikes threatening regional stability and global energy supplies, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Economic Strain: The primary goal is to drain the Iranian economy by severely restricting its key revenue streams, following previous sanctions that caused significant drops in GDP and severe currency devaluation.
- Limiting Aggression: By curbing oil income, the legislation intends to limit Iran’s ability to fund regional proxy groups and sustain its military operations.
- Deterring Nuclear Ambitions: The goal is to force the regime to abandon its nuclear weapons programs by limiting the financial resources required to advance.
- Rapid Surge: The average national price for regular gasoline surpassed
per gallon by mid-March, up from approximatelyjust before the conflict began, marking the second-largest four-week increase in at least 30 years. - Oil Market Reaction: Global crude oil prices spiked near
a barrel shortly after the conflict started, up from roughlya barrel beforehand, before settling around.
- Regional Differences: California prices soared,
according to data from AAA and reported by CNN.
- Why It's Rising: The conflict has impacted major shipping lanes in the Persian Gulf, threatening about 20% of the world's oil supply.
- Upcoming Costs: Further increases are anticipated due to the transition to more expensive summer-blend gasoline.
Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com are the most-read Black digital newspaper and blog in Ohio. Tel. 216-659-0473. Email-editor@clevelandurbannews.com.
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