Statement Regarding Executive Order To Impose Sanctions With Respect to Additional Sectors of Iran

In January 2020, President Donald J. Trump issued an Executive Order titled "Statement Regarding Executive Order To Impose Sanctions With Respect to Additional Sectors of Iran." This action authorizes the imposition of sanctions against any individual or entity operating in the construction, manufacturing, textiles, or mining sectors of the Iranian economy, or anyone assisting those involved in these sanctioned activities. It also authorizes powerful secondary sanctions on foreign financial institutions, which is expected to have a major impact on the Iranian economy. The President stated that this order aims to hold the Iranian regime responsible for attacks against United States personnel and interests by denying it substantial revenue that could fund its nuclear program, missile development, terrorism, and other regional influence. The stated goal is to counter Iran's "destructive and destabilizing behavior" and prevent it from having a nuclear weapon, with sanctions intended to remain until the Iranian regime changes its behavior.

The President's authority for this type of executive order is based on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which grants broad power to regulate international economic transactions during a declared national emergency. This authority has been used extensively by presidents from both parties for foreign policy sanctions, and courts have generally deferred to these decisions. However, the broad scope of IEEPA has drawn constitutional criticism, as it delegates sweeping power to the President during emergencies that can last for years or decades, raising questions about whether Congress can transfer such extensive economic regulatory authority to the executive branch.

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