Countering Iranian Threats Act of 2016
A BILL
To protect against threats posed by Iran to the United States and allies of the United States, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Definitions
In this Act:
Act of international terrorism— The term act of international terrorism has the meaning given that term in section 14 of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note).
Appropriate congressional committees— The term appropriate congressional committees has the meaning given that term in section 14 of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note).
Foreign person— The term foreign person means a person that is not a United States person.
Foreign terrorist organization— The term foreign terrorist organization means an organization designated as a foreign terrorist organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189).
Iranian financial institution— The term Iranian financial institution has the meaning given that term in section 104A of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8513b).
Iranian person— The term Iranian person means—
an individual who is a citizen or national of Iran; or
an entity organized under the laws of Iran or otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the Government of Iran.
IRGC— The term IRGC means Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Knowingly— The term knowingly has the meaning given that term in section 14 of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note).
Person— The term person means an individual or entity.
Significant activities undermining cybersecurity— The term significant activities undermining cybersecurity includes—
significant efforts to—
deny access to or degrade, disrupt, or destroy an information and communications technology system or network; or
exfiltrate information from such a system or network without authorization;
significant destructive malware attacks; and
significant denial of service activities.
State sponsor of terrorism— The term state sponsor of terrorism has the meaning given that term in section 301 of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8541).
United States person— The term United States person means—
a United States citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the United States; or
an entity organized under the laws of the United States or of any jurisdiction within the United States, including a foreign branch of such an entity.
Sec. 3 Findings
Congress makes the following findings:
The United States is in no way committed to suspend or refrain from imposing sanctions on Iran for its continued support of acts of international terrorism and other acts that destabilize international order, including the pursuit of chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction programs, malicious cyber activities, or development of or trade in proliferation-sensitive technology such as ballistic and cruise missiles, or the commission of human rights abuses.
Iran is designated as a state sponsor of terrorism by the United States, and continues to threaten the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States and countries with which the United States shares common strategic and foreign policy objectives.