PUNISH Act of 2023

HR 5912 (PUNISH Act of 2023) maintains existing U.S. sanctions against Iran by preventing the President from lifting them without new certification. It requires the State Department to submit every 180 days a report confirming Iran has not engaged in targeted violence (such as assassinations of U.S. citizens, Iranian residents in the U.S., or politically motivated abuse) over the past five years. This certification must be provided before sanctions can be waived, suspended, or reduced under current laws like the Iran Sanctions Act. The bill directly affects the President’s authority to ease sanctions, Iranian entities subject to existing sanctions, and U.S. agencies responsible for reporting. It does not create new sanctions but extends the duration of current measures until a specific certification date.