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The ISA was first
adopted in 1996 to punish investments in Iran's energy industry
and deter its pursuit of nuclear weapons. The extension was
passed unanimously on Thursday.
U.S. officials said the ISA's renewal would not violate the
nuclear agreement between Tehran and six major powers, under
which Iran curbed its nuclear program in return for the lifting
of Western sanctions.
"The extension of sanctions by the U.S. Congress is a violation
of the deal. We will report it to Iran's committee, assigned for
monitoring the implementation of the deal," state TV quoted
Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi as saying.
Iran's most powerful authority Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei said in November any extension would breach the deal
and threatened retaliation.
Ghasemi, echoing Khamenei's stance, did not say what action Iran
would take, but said in comments reported by state news agency
IRNA: "Iran has shown its commitment to its international
agreements, but we are also prepared for any possible scenario.
We are ready to firmly protect the nation's rights under any
circumstances."
The ISA had been due to expire on Dec. 31. Lawmakers said it
would make it easier for sanctions to be reimposed if Iran
violated the deal.
The 2015 nuclear agreement came after years of stand-off between
Western nations, which accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear
weapons, and Tehran, which said its nuclear program was for
energy only. Sanctions imposed over its nuclear program have
badly damaged Iran's economy.
The White House had not pushed for an extension of the sanctions
act, but had not raised serious objections. Some congressional
aides said they expected President Barack Obama to sign it.
The action of Congress did not address the fate of the nuclear
pact, which was opposed by Republican lawmakers.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump railed against the deal during
his election campaign, describing Iran as the world's largest
state sponsor of terrorism and dismissed the nuclear accord as
"one of the worst deals I've ever seen negotiated."
(Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
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