The PUNISH Act of 2023 locks in place multiple existing sanctions against Iran and prevents the president from lifting or waiving those sanctions unless Iran stops attempting to assassinate U.S. officials, U.S. citizens, and Iranian residents living in the United States. The bill codifies four executive orders related to Iranian sanctions on sectors like oil, metals, and weapons, maintains the designation of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, and keeps national emergencies declared against Iran in effect. Every 180 days, the Secretary of State must report to Congress on whether Iran has engaged in any assassination attempts or politically motivated violence against these protected groups during the previous five years, and the president cannot waive sanctions without a determination that Iran has ceased such activities. The sanctions will remain in place indefinitely unless the president certifies that Iran has ended these hostile actions and submits that certification to Congress, after which the sanctions would expire 30 days later.
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