Iran's Ballistic-Missile Programs

The bill was sponsored by Republican Ed Royce (left) and Democrat Eliot Engel (right, file photo).

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. House of Representatives, in a near-unanimous vote, approved legislation to impose new sanctions related to Iran's ballistic-missile program, an issue separate from the 2015 international nuclear deal with Tehran.

The bipartisan measure, which passed by a 423-2 vote, requires the U.S. administration to sanction Iran for undertaking "any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic-missile technology."

It also calls on the U.S. government to identify and impose sanctions on companies and individuals -- both inside Iran and internationally -- that aid or supply materials to the missile program.

The bill was sponsored by Republican Ed Royce and Democrat Eliot Engel. It must now pass the Republican-controlled Senate and go to President Donald Trump for his signature.

"Iran has no business developing or acquiring intercontinental ballistic missiles," Royce said during the House debate.

House approves bill to sanction Iran for ballistic missiles

The Republican-led House overwhelmingly approved bipartisan legislation Thursday that would slap new sanctions on Iran for its pursuit of long-range ballistic missiles without derailing the 2015 international nuclear accord that President Donald Trump has threatened to unravel.

Reps. Ed Royce and Eliot Engel sponsored the bill, which requires the Trump administration to identify for sanctions the companies and individuals inside and outside of Iran that are the main suppliers of Tehran's ballistic missile programs.

Lawmakers voted 423-2 to pass the measure.

Royce, a California Republican, is chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Engel, who is from New York, is the panel's top Democrat. Both opposed the nuclear agreement when it was forged two years ago, but neither lawmaker is in favor of ditching the deal now.

Lawmakers are aiming to hold Iran accountable for what they say is reckless, destabilizing behavior while they debate how to meet Trump's new demands for fixing what he and other Republicans argue are serious flaws with the nuclear agreement.