Dismantle Iran’s Proxy Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 145
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-16: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- Last Updated
- 2025-04-05T11:03:16Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "Dismantle Iran's Proxy Act of 2025," aims to counter the activities of Ansarallah (also known as the Houthi movement) by requiring its redesignation as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). An FTO is a group officially labeled by the U.S. government for supporting terrorism, which triggers restrictions like asset freezes and travel bans. The bill seeks to address threats to maritime security in the Red Sea region and obstacles to humanitarian aid in Yemen, viewing Ansarallah as a proxy for Iran.
Key Provisions
- Redesignation and Sanctions: Within 30 days of enactment, the President must:
- Designate Ansarallah as an FTO under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (a law governing U.S. immigration and security designations).
- Apply sanctions under Executive Order 13224 (a 2001 order blocking assets and prohibiting dealings with terrorism supporters) to Ansarallah and any foreign persons (non-U.S. individuals or entities) identified as its officials, agents, or affiliates.
- Individual Determinations: Within 30 days after the designation, the President must assess and report to Congress whether three specific individuals—Abdul Malik al-Houthi, Abd al-Khaliq Badr al-Din al-Houthi, and Abdullah Yahya al-Hakim—are officials, agents, or affiliates of Ansarallah.
- Strategy for Maritime Security: Within 180 days, the President must submit a strategy to Congress detailing:
- Efforts to restore safe navigation in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, Red Sea, and nearby waterways (key global shipping routes threatened by Ansarallah attacks).
- Measures to weaken Ansarallah's capabilities, including targeting command structures, leaders, intelligence, lethal aid, training, and material support.
- Humanitarian Aid Report: Within 180 days, the Secretary of State (in consultation with the USAID Administrator) must report to Congress on barriers to aid delivery in Ansarallah-controlled areas of Yemen, covering:
- Bureaucratic hurdles and restrictions on access and movement.
- Interference, such as manipulating aid recipient lists for political or military gain.
- Use of violence or intimidation against aid workers and diplomats.
- U.S. and partner actions to ensure unhindered aid delivery aligned with humanitarian principles (e.g., neutrality and impartiality).
- Definitions: Clarifies terms like "Ansarallah" (including aliases like the Houthi movement), "appropriate congressional committees" (Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs Committees), and "foreign person" (non-U.S. individuals or entities).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Reverses the 2021 delisting of Ansarallah as an FTO and from sanctions under Executive Order 13224, which occurred under the Biden administration to facilitate Yemen peace talks and humanitarian efforts.
- Mandates proactive presidential actions and reporting timelines, shifting from discretionary executive authority to required steps, while expanding sanctions to potential affiliates without prior designation.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload for the State Department, USAID, and intelligence agencies in implementing designations, sanctions, strategy development, and reporting; may strain resources for monitoring compliance and coordinating with allies.
- Citizens and International Relations: Could disrupt global trade by deterring shipping in the Red Sea (affecting U.S. consumers via higher costs for goods like oil and imports); enhances U.S. pressure on Iran (Ansarallah's backer), potentially escalating tensions but strengthening alliances with partners like Saudi Arabia and Israel against shared threats.
- Yemen and Humanitarian Efforts: May complicate aid delivery in Houthi areas due to stricter sanctions, risking civilian hardship, but the report provision could improve transparency and targeted support to bypass obstacles.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Government: Executive branch (President, State Department, USAID) for enforcement; Congress for oversight and strategy approval.
- Ansarallah/Houthis and Affiliates: Faces asset freezes, transaction bans, and potential military targeting, limiting operations and funding.
- Yemeni Civilians and Aid Providers: International organizations (e.g., UN agencies) and NGOs delivering aid in Yemen may encounter more restrictions but gain U.S. support to counter interference.
- Global Shipping and Trade Entities: Companies operating in the Red Sea benefit from enhanced security but face risks from heightened conflict.
- Iran and Regional Actors: Iran as Ansarallah's supporter could see indirect sanctions pressure; allies like Gulf states may align more closely with U.S. policy.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces executive authority under existing terrorism laws (e.g., Immigration and Nationality Act) but introduces mandatory timelines, potentially limiting presidential flexibility in foreign policy; sanctions could lead to legal challenges from affected parties on due process grounds.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's war powers and foreign affairs oversight (Article I), balancing executive action through required reporting to committees, promoting checks and balances.
- Political: Signals a hawkish U.S. stance on Iran-backed groups, appealing to bipartisan security concerns but risking diplomatic fallout in Yemen peace efforts; may influence 2025 foreign policy debates on terrorism designations versus humanitarian priorities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (20)
Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS], Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR], Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC], Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID], Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN], Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL], Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA], Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS], Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR], Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL], Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD], Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE], Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA], Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND], Sen. Thune, John [R-SD], Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC], Sen. Husted, Jon [R-OH]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-16: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 2025-01-16: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Dismantle Iran’s Proxy Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-20 — PDF (6 pages)