NOPE Act

Bill Number

H.R. 8220

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

International Affairs

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-04-09: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Last Updated

2026-04-21T01:37:35Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The No Oil Profiteering to Enrich Iran Act (NOPE Act), H.R. 8220, aims to block Iran from profiting from oil sales by nullifying a specific U.S. Treasury license that allowed the delivery and sale of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products loaded on vessels as of March 20, 2026. It imposes new sanctions on Iranian oil sector participants and requires ongoing reports on Iranian oil exports amid potential disruptions like the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Key Provisions

• Nullification of License (Sec. 2): Immediately revokes Iran-related General License U issued by the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Prohibits the Treasury Secretary from issuing future authorizations for transactions involving the sale, delivery, or offloading of Iranian oil or petroleum products.
• New Sanctions (Sec. 3): Within 30 days of enactment, the President must sanction Iranian persons (individuals or entities) involved in:
• Oil and gas extraction.
• Oil and gas refinement or production.
• Maritime transportation of oil, gas, or petroleum products.

Sanctions include:

• Asset blocking: Freezing U.S.-linked assets and prohibiting transactions (using powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA).
• Visa and entry bans: Denying entry, revoking visas immediately, and canceling related documents for covered aliens.

Exceptions:

• Compliance with U.N. Headquarters Agreement or other international obligations.
• Humanitarian aid, food/medicine sales, or related transport/finance.
• U.S. intelligence, law enforcement, or national security activities.

Sanctions are enforced via IEEPA, with civil/criminal penalties for violations. Classified information can be used in court reviews without granting new judicial rights.

• Reporting Requirements (Sec. 4): Secretary of State must submit reports to Congress within 30 days of enactment, then every 60 days for 3 years, analyzing:
• Impact of the license (and successors) on Iranian oil export volumes, prices, government revenue (including premiums from Strait of Hormuz closure), and production levels as of April 2026.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Overrides an existing OFAC general license, eliminating a temporary authorization for Iranian oil transactions.
• Prohibits future similar licenses, tightening restrictions beyond current sanctions regimes.
• Mandates automatic sanctions on broad categories of Iranian oil actors, expanding IEEPA application without prior notice requirements for asset blocks.
• Introduces recurring congressional reporting tied to specific geopolitical events (e.g., Strait closure).

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Treasury (OFAC) loses flexibility on Iran oil licenses; State, Homeland Security, and others must rapidly implement sanctions and visa revocations; increased reporting burden on State Department.
• Citizens and Businesses: U.S. persons face penalties for dealings with sanctioned Iranian oil entities; limits global trade in Iranian oil, potentially raising energy prices.
• International Relations: Escalates U.S. pressure on Iran, disrupting its oil revenue (a key funding source); may strain relations with oil-buying nations (e.g., China, India) and affect global oil markets if Hormuz disruptions occur.

Main Stakeholders

• Iranian Government and Entities: Oil producers, refiners, shippers, and state-affiliated firms face asset freezes and travel bans.
• U.S. Executive Branch: President, Treasury, State, and Homeland Security for enforcement.
• Congress: Foreign Affairs, Judiciary, Energy committees for oversight.
• International Actors: Oil importers, shipping companies, and nations navigating U.S. sanctions (secondary effects possible).
• Humanitarian Groups: Protected from sanctions for aid-related activities.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Relies on IEEPA (emergency economic powers), bypassing some procedural hurdles; allows ex parte (one-sided) use of classified info in reviews, limiting challenges while protecting sources.
• Constitutional: Asserts congressional authority over executive sanctions/licensing decisions, potentially checking presidential foreign policy discretion.
• Political: Signals bipartisan hawkishness on Iran (introduced by Rep. Latimer); enforces accountability on oil revenue amid regional tensions, but risks executive non-compliance or veto. Referred to Foreign Affairs and Judiciary Committees for review.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]

Recent Actions

• 2026-04-09: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-04-09: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-04-09: Introduced in House
• 2026-04-09: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• No Oil Profiteering to Enrich Iran Act — issued 2026-04-09 — PDF (8 pages)