Abstract:
US Congress, as a legislative pillar of democracy, has a significant impact on American foreign policy. Nevertheless, the role of the US Congress is not limited to domestic politics rather they would usually shape US foreign policy. Since the Islamic revolution, US Congress has adopted an aggressive approach towards Iran. The US legislative institution, as a domestic source of US foreign policy, has shaped US foreign policy toward Iran by imposing economic sanctions. The purpose of the research is to increase the Iranian officials’ understanding of US domestic politics. Therefore, the main question of the research is: What is the impact of US congress on American foreign policy towards Iran (2005-2017)? In order to answer the main question, the authors would use neo-classical theory. In addition to systemic factors, neoclassic realism would consider domestic factors to explain foreign policy. The findings of research suggest that the US congress has encouraged US administrations to pursue an aggressive policy towards the Islamic Republic of Iran by imposing economic sanctions and by persuading the US administrations to implement them.
Machine summary:
The Congress Role in the US Foreign Policy Adopted against Iran (2005-2017): In spite of the ideological gap between the Congress representatives and their different viewpoints toward foreign and local issues, the members of the House of Representatives and the Senators have approved sanction bills against Iran showing that their approach towards Iran is similar.
When the sanction bills are put forth in the House of Representatives and/or the Senate, the members of the Congress, regardless of their own ideological tendencies, try to draft and eventually approve the bills so that they can impose the maximum pressures on Iran.
Even when the US president takes a new strategy against Iran to change Iran’s approach, the members of the Congress approve the bills and/or issue the resolutions to support it regardless of president's affiliated party, either the Republican or Democratic Party.
To this end, the act authorizes the US president to take specific measures; including but not limited to providing political support and financial tools for certain individuals, organizations and institutions to promote democracy in Iran.
113th US Congress and Iran (2013-2015) House Foreign Affairs Committee (2013-2015): The California Republican representative, Edward Royce was appointed as the chairman of the Committee in this period.
In spite of the sanction laws passed by the Congress during the last 17 years, in particular Obama presidency, the executive orders of the US president aimed at imposing sanctions on industrial, financial and oil export sections continues to impose fundamental impacts on Iran economic condition and subsequently, made changes in Iran foreign policy with regard to nuclear issue.