Overview

Title

To provide for the imposition of sanctions with respect to the importation of natural gas from Iran by the Government of Iraq.

ELI5 AI

H.R. 2574 is a plan to stop a country called Iraq from buying natural gas from a country called Iran, trying to make it harder for Iran to sell gas and keep things fair between countries. But there are some issues because the rules about how to do this aren't super clear, which might make it tricky to understand and follow.

Summary AI

H.R. 2574, known as the “No Iranian Energy Act,” proposes sanctions against the importation of natural gas from Iran by the Government of Iraq. This bill aims to target Iran’s growing natural gas industry by implementing restrictions through amendments to the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act of 2012. It seeks to apply these sanctions to any sale, supply, or transfer of natural gas to or from Iran unless specified otherwise in section 1254.

Published

2025-04-01
Congress: 119
Session: 1
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2025-04-01
Package ID: BILLS-119hr2574ih

Keywords AI

sanctions iran iraq natural gas iran freedom and counter-proliferation act u.s. foreign policy energy trade legislation enforcement congress

Sources

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
3
Words:
443
Pages:
2
Sentences:
11

Language

Nouns: 149
Verbs: 25
Adjectives: 11
Adverbs: 1
Numbers: 16
Entities: 52

Complexity

Average Token Length:
3.82
Average Sentence Length:
40.27
Token Entropy:
4.55
Readability (ARI):
20.00

AnalysisAI

General Summary of the Bill

The legislation titled H. R. 2574, also known as the "No Iranian Energy Act," aims to impose sanctions on the importation of natural gas from Iran by the Government of Iraq. The bill is presented by a group of U.S. Representatives, reflecting a proactive stance against Iran's involvement in the natural gas industry. It seeks to amend the existing Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act to ensure that sanctions will also cover the sale, supply, or transfer of natural gas to or from Iran unless exemptions are specified in another section.

Summary of Significant Issues

Several notable issues emerge from the bill's text:

  1. Ambiguity in Congressional Intent: The bill expresses the "Sense of Congress" regarding the imposition of sanctions on Iran's gas industry. However, this language lacks concrete legislative action, causing potential confusion about the bill's actual intent and effectiveness.

  2. Lack of Specifics on Implementation and Enforcement: The bill does not outline enforcement mechanisms or penalties for violating the prohibition on importing Iranian natural gas. This lack of specificity could lead to challenges in enforcing the sanctions consistently.

  3. Undefined Criteria for Exemptions: Section 3 of the bill refers to unspecified exemptions in Section 1254, which creates uncertainty about when natural gas transactions might be allowed, potentially providing loopholes that could undermine the sanctions' effectiveness.

  4. Potential Oversight in Scope: The bill specifically targets natural gas but does not address other forms of energy trade or economic transactions with Iran. This limited focus might reduce the overall impact of the proposed sanctions.

Impact on the Public

The potential impacts of this bill on the general public can be multifaceted:

  • Economic Impact: By imposing sanctions, the bill could influence global energy markets, potentially affecting gas prices and availability. Consumers might experience fluctuations in energy costs as geopolitical factors alter supply chains.

  • Foreign Relations: The bill reflects a stringent U.S. stance against Iran, which could affect diplomatic ties not only with Iran but also with Iraq, as it targets Iraq's import practices directly.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

  • U.S. Government and Policymakers: For the U.S. government, the bill aligns with a broader strategy to exert pressure on Iran. However, without clear guidance on enforcement, there could be challenges in achieving the intended geopolitical outcomes.

  • Iraq and Energy Enterprises: Iraq, as a stakeholder that imports natural gas from Iran, might face economic and logistical challenges if the bill results in a disruption of its current energy supplies. Iranian energy enterprises might experience economic setbacks, impacting their participation in international markets.

  • Allied Governments and Entities: Countries and companies closely tied to U.S. sanctions policies might need to navigate the complexities of adhering to this new legislative measure, adjusting their business practices to avoid legal repercussions.

In conclusion, while the "No Iranian Energy Act" seeks to intensify sanctions against Iran's gas industry, the potential success of this bill is tethered to how effectively it can be implemented and enforced. The lack of clear provisions for exceptions and enforcement mechanisms underscores a need for clarity to prevent unintended consequences and ensure the sanctions' objectives are met.

Issues

  • The lack of explicit enforcement mechanisms or penalties associated with the prohibition on Iranian natural gas in Section 3 may lead to ambiguity in enforcement. This could result in inconsistent application of the law and undermine the effectiveness of the sanctions, which is crucial given the geopolitical implications of U.S. foreign policy toward Iran.

  • The ambiguous language in Section 2 'Sense of Congress' that suggests targeting Iran's emerging gas industry could lead to differing interpretations and does not compel any legislative action. This may cause confusion over the actual intent and expected outcomes of the bill.

  • The absence of specific criteria or benchmarks in Section 2 for assessing the impact or scope of the proposed sanctions could lead to implementation challenges and varying interpretations of what constitutes effective sanctioning of Iran's gas industry.

  • In Section 3, the text does not specify the exceptions outlined in section 1254, which makes it unclear under what conditions natural gas transactions could be exempt from sanctions. This could result in loopholes that foreign entities may exploit, undermining the bill's objectives.

  • The exclusive focus on natural gas transactions in Section 3 misses other forms of energy trade or economic interactions that could similarly undermine the desired pressure on Iran, potentially limiting the bill's efficacy in achieving its broader objectives.

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The first section of this act states that it can be referred to as the “No Iranian Energy Act.”

2. Sense of Congress Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section expresses Congress's view that the United States should impose sanctions on Iran's developing gas industry.

3. Prohibition on Iranian natural gas Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section of the bill updates the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act to apply sanctions to any sale, supply, or transfer of natural gas to or from Iran, unless specifically exempted by another section.