Sherman Hails Iran Sanctions

Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks, a longtime proponent of tough sanctions against Iran, applauded Tuesday passage of legislation he cosponsored giving legal protections to investment managers who pull money out of the country’s energy sector.

Congress passed the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act 415-11, with Southland lawmakers of both parties voting unanimously for it.

Sherman called the measure part of a strategy to isolate the Iranian regime.

``Divestment is a key element in our strategy to put diplomatic and economic pressure on Tehran until it has given up its pursuit of nuclear weapons and curtails its support for terror,’’ he said.

The measure requires that the government regularly publish a list of firms that have $20 million or more invested in Iran’s energy sector, that sell arms to Tehran or that loan $20 million or more to the country. States would be authorized to divest from those firms. Meanwhile, pension fund and mutual fund managers who chose to divest would be shielded from lawsuits.