| Shorttitle: | Iran Freedom and Support Act |
| Longtitle: | An Act to hold the current regime in Iran accountable for its threatening behavior and to support a transition to democracy in Iran. |
| Enacted By: | 109th |
| Effective Date: | September 30, 2006 |
| Public Law Url: | http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-120/pdf/STATUTE-120-Pg1344.pdf |
| Cite Public Law: | 109-293 |
| Leghisturl: | http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR06198:@@@R |
| Introducedin: | House |
| Introducedby: | Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) |
| Introduceddate: | September 27, 2006 |
| Committees: | House International Relations, House Financial Services |
| Passedbody1: | House |
| Passeddate1: | September 28, 2006 |
| Passedvote1: | agreed voice vote |
| Passedbody2: | Senate |
| Passeddate2: | September 30, 2006 |
| Passedvote2: | passed unanimous consent |
| Signedpresident: | George W. Bush |
| Signeddate: | September 30, 2006 |
The Iran Freedom Support Act (120 Stat. 1344,, enacted September 30, 2006) is an Act of Congress that appropriated $10 million and directed the President of the United States to spend that money in support of "pro-democracy groups" opposed to the Iranian government.[1] Opponents claimed the bill was a first step towards a US-led invasion of the country.[2] [3]
In response to the passage of the bill, President George W. Bush lauded the Congress "for demonstrating its bipartisan commitment to confronting the Iranian regime's repressive and destabilizing activities."[4]
American authorities have refused to announce the names of groups that have received money under this act, and no group has officially acknowledged this either.
Following introduction of the bill in the Senate, Iran responded "those who draft such plans lag behind the times, they live in their daydreams."