Congress·In Committee·S. 556

Congress moves to expand sanctions on foreign networks helping ship and sell Iranian oil and gas

A bill to impose sanctions with respect to persons engaged in logistical transactions and sanctions evasion relating to oil, gas, liquefied natural gas, and related petrochemical products from the Islamic Republic of Iran, and for other purposes.

Also known as: Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025

about 1 year ago·View on Congress.gov

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Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

Senate

House

President

Law

Key Points

Would require the President to sanction foreign companies and people who help move, insure, finance, or sell Iranian oil, gas, and related products.
Sanctions include freezing any of their property that touches the US financial system and banning involved individuals from getting visas or entering the US.
Targets more than just the main companies: it can also hit subsidiaries, 50%-owned related companies, corporate officers, and even immediate family members.
Allows case-by-case waivers for up to 180 days at a time, but only with notice to Congress; waiver authority ends in early 2029.
Creates a State-led working group (with Treasury and Justice) to coordinate enforcement and work with other countries to close loopholes and track sanctions evasion.

Foreign PolicyNational SecurityTrade

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Negative Impacts(2)

Visa Holder

Hurts

Green Card

Hurts

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Feb 12, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Feb 12, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

On the date the bill is enacted

Sanctions authority turns on for covered Iran-linked energy logistics transactions

Once the law is in effect, foreign companies and people tied to Iran-origin oil/gas/LNG logistics can be named, have U.S.-connected assets frozen, and be cut off from U.S. business.

As soon as an individual is designated after enactment

Visa bans and visa revocations can be applied to covered non‑U.S. persons

If someone is designated under the bill and is not a U.S. citizen, they can be blocked from entering the U.S., and any existing visa documentation can be revoked and canceled.

Related News

7 articles

Reuters·5 months ago

US imposes sanctions on China refinery, others for Iran oil purchases

Reuters report on a large U.S. sanctions package targeting entities linked to Iranian oil/petrochemical trade; relevant as real-world enforcement context for the bill’s goals, though not centered on the bill itself.

The Associated Press·5 months ago

New US sanctions target 50 people, companies and ships for allegedly aiding Iran's oil and gas trade

AP coverage of sanctions on individuals, firms, and vessels tied to Iran’s oil/LPG trade—aligned with the bill’s focus on logistics, shipping networks, and secondary sanctions, but not specifically about the bill.

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The Associated Press·6 months ago

US sanctions Iranian financiers, others over $100M in cryptocurrency transfers from Iran oil sales

AP report on sanctions tied to alleged sanctions-evasion financing flows linked to Iranian oil proceeds; relevant to the bill’s sanctions-evasion theme, but not a direct discussion of the bill.

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