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WASHINGTON-- Aiming to prove their commitment to Israel, senior U.S. lawmakers are backing bipartisan legislation that would slap Iran with new sanctions while maintaining rigorous enforcement of the landmark nuclear deal.

The measures, unveiled ahead of the opening of the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference, seek to build consensus among Republicans and Democrats who are so often bitterly at odds on domestic issues.

The United States will stand with Israel, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said at the conference Tuesday. But the Kentucky Republican criticized the nuclear agreement as a windfall for Tehran that prevented the U.S. from taking more aggressive steps against Iran.

But today we can take a different approach, McConnell said. Today, we can combat Irans capability to fund, arm, and train terrorists like Hezbollah, Hamas, and its proxies in Syria.

In exchange for Tehran rolling back its nuclear program, the U.S. and other world powers agreed to suspend wide-ranging oil, trade and financial sanctions that had choked the Iranian economy.

The House bill, which is co-sponsored by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, targets Irans illicit ballistic missile development program. The measure would shut out of the international financial system Iranian and foreign companies involved in the missile program - along with the banks that back them.

The Senate legislation imposes mandatory sanctions on people involved in Irans ballistic missile program and anyone who does business with them. The measure also would apply terrorism sanctions to the countrys Revolutionary Guards and enforce an arms embargo.

The measure is supported by Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the Republican chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, the panels top Democrat.

To combat these threats, we must harness every instrument of American power, House Speaker Paul Ryan said at the conference Monday. We must work with our allies - and Israel in particular - to counter this aggression at every turn.

In the opening days of the conference, Israeli leaders hoping Trump would be a rubber stamp for the Jewish state heard plenty of reassuring rhetoric. Missing from the agenda so far, however, were concrete steps advancing the Israeli governments top priorities.

The Iran nuclear deal, so despised by Israel and congressional Republicans, is solidly in place. The U.S. Embassy is no closer to moving to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government wants. And as it has under past presidents, Washington is still telling Israel to slow settlement construction.

It is making for an unusual AIPAC conference, one relieved of the strains that marked the last years of President Barack Obamas tenure, but also filled with significant uncertainty.

Netanyahu on Monday called the U.S.-Israeli relationship stronger than ever.

His ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer, said a day earlier that for the first time in years or even decades, there is no daylight between our two governments.

Vice President Mike Pence said he and Trump stand without apology for Israel and we always will.

But its too early to tell whether Trump will ultimately fulfill Israels wishes. And there are indications hes reconsidering several stances adopted during the campaign.

As a candidate, Trump repeatedly vowed to be the president to finally relocate the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, which Israel considers its capital. As Pence said Sunday, that unequivocal promise has morphed into Trump now giving serious consideration to moving the American embassy.

While candidate Trump said hed renegotiate or dismantle the Iran nuclear deal, which Israel fiercely opposes, President Trumps administration is continuing to implement the accord while examining whether it should stand.

On Irans missile program, however, Trump has expanded U.S. sanctions. The administration last month responded to a missile test by hitting 25 people and entities with sanctions. But backers of the new legislation want the president to go further.

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Mitch McConnell criticizes Iran nuke deal as "windfall" for Tehran - CBS News

Donald Trumps Middle East policy is emerging. Apart from supporting Israel, he wants to eradicate ISIL and other Islamic jihadists, he wants to deter Iran and its dream of hegemony over the entire Middle East, and he wants the Arab countries to bear the burden of their own defence.

His answer: an Arab NATO, funded by its Arab members and aided by the military and intelligence assets of Israel and the United States.

The idea of a military alliance among the Arab nations first came from Egypts President Abdel al-Sisi two years ago in February, 2015, when he went on national television to warn about radical jihadis across the Middle East. The Arab League at its summit the following month endorsed the concept, and military heads from 11 Arab countries (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Sudan, Libya and Jordan) then met to work out the details.

But al-Sisis plans soon went into a deep freeze, despite a push by Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn, former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, who argued in June 2015 testimony to two Congressional subcommittees that the U.S. should fully support, help organize, and assist those regional partners create an Arab NATO-like structure and framework. Build an Arab Army that is able to secure their regional responsibilities. Flynn was especially focused on deterring a Russia-backed Iran, which poses a nuclear threat to the United States as well as to the countries of the Middle East not just Israel, about which Iran is most vocal, but also the Sunni Arab states and Sunni Turkey, a NATO ally of the U.S.

Upon becoming president, Trump immediately revived the al-Sisi-Flynn plan. Rather than accepting Americas outsized military burden in the Middle East, he pressed the Arab NATO plan with Arab diplomats in Washington through Flynn, who had become his national security advisor, and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. Trump personally took the issue up with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was immediately receptive.

I believe that the great opportunity for peace comes from a regional approach from involving our newfound Arab partners, Netanyahu stated at a joint press conference with Trump when in Washington in February. Elaborated Trump: It is something that is very different, hasnt been discussed before. And its actually a much bigger deal much more important deal in a sense. It would take in many, many countries and would cover a very large territory.

The much bigger deal involves something for all the Sunni Arab states in the region. Saudi Arabia needs help fighting the Iranian-backed Houtis in Yemen, Egypt needs help countering threats from Libya, all are at risk from ISIL. As a down payment on the deal, the Trump administration launched a commando raid into Yemen. To seal the deal, Trump must overcome Arab fears of being accused of entering an alliance with Israel. Arab leaders have asked Trump to hold off moving his embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, and to prevent Israel from building new settlements, requests with which Trump is complying.

In short order, Trump has begun to realign the Arab armies, at the same time indicating he has their back against a nuclear-powered Iran bent on hegemony over the Middle East. Judging by the reaction of Iran, Trumps approach is working.

After Irans long-range missile launch on Jan.29, shortly after Trumps inauguration, it was menacingly put on notice by the Trump administration, and to immediate effect. Iran soon cancelled a follow-up launch of a long-range missile that had been planned, and even cancelled a non-military launch of a satellite, for fear of rousing Trumps ire. According to Irans Tasnin News Agency, a frustrated Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force, bitterly complained that Iran had been deterred because of Americas angry tone How much longer will we be blackmailed and forced to compromise? If we do not change our strategy, and continue to operate according to orders from officials who are stuck in the mud, our situation will deteriorate daily.

The deterrence went further. Iran has stopped provoking U.S. navy vessels on the water, all but stopped its public threats to sink them, all but stopped burning the American flag, all but stopped its Death to America calls. Irans reticence to provoke the U.S. has continued despite criticism. As put in one Iranian article earlier this month, when Trump was elected, (government officials) said that Trump was unpredictable and makes unconsidered decisions and that is why it is better for us to refrain from saying anything to offend him Adding to Irans angst is a fear that Russia has abandoned it, after being wooed into an alliance with the U.S. that will see Iran squeezed out of Syria.

Iran is now on its back foot, concluded an analysis by the Middle East Media Research Institute, saying These developments have given rise in Tehran to a sense that it is besieged and under an emerging existential threat, in light of the crystallization of a comprehensive U.S.-Russia-Arab (including Israel) front against the Iranian revolutionary regime.

Trump, in contrast, is leaning forward, his assertive Middle East diplomacy, two months into his presidency, showing astonishingly promising results.

National Post

Lawrence Solomon is a policy analyst with Toronto-based Probe International. LawrenceSolomon@nextcity.com

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Lawrence Solomon: With an Arab NATO and a contained Iran, Trump is changing the Middle East - National Post

Relations between Iran and the U.S. are going from bad to worse. Tehran slapped sanctions on 15 U.S. companies Sunday in retaliation for American sanctions announced last month.

"Imposition of new sanctions by the U.S. is based on fabricated and illegitimate pretexts and amount to an action against international regulations," Iran's foreign ministry said in a statement.

Boeing (BA) signed an $8 billion deal to sell 80 jets to Iran Air after many sanctions were lifted as part of an international deal on the country's nuclear program.

The planemaker is not on the list of Tehran's targets, which includes Raytheon (RTN), Oshkosh (OSK) and Bushmaster. None of them currently does any business with Iran.

"The sanctions from the Iranian side don't really have any practical importance to them," said Robin Mills, CEO of Qamar Energy and an expert on Middle East energy and investment. "These U.S. defense companies obviously don't have any assets or activities in Iran. It's just trying to score political points."

Related: Chinese firm fined $1.2 billion for violating U.S. sanctions on Iran

But the rising tension puts Boeing's plans on an increasingly shaky footing.

"[The Boeing deal] is a key pressure point I think because that is of course one of the few areas where U.S. trade with Iran has been specifically allowed," said Mills.

President Trump has long been critical of the Iran nuclear deal that was signed under the Obama administration.

After assuming office, Trump said he was putting Iran "on notice" and his first move against the country was including its citizens on a travel ban.

Tehran then conducted a missile test which prompted a round of U.S. sanctions that targeted 25 individuals and companies connected to Iran's ballistic missile program and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The next big test for Boeing's deal is likely to come in June, when sanction waivers signed by President Obama will be due for renewal. It's the first time Trump will have to sign them.

"The next round of waivers... are absolutely crucial," said Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council. "If the Trump administration doesn't renew them, the United States will be in direct violation of the deal. If so, the deal will start collapsing and the United States will be blamed for its collapse."

Related: Trump's move on Iran could cost jobs at Boeing

To complicate matters, a bill has been introduced in Congress to investigate whether Iran Air supports the Iranian Revolutionary Guard or foreign terrorist organizations.

If Iran Air were found to have such links, it would be prevented from receiving new aircraft or U.S.-made parts. That would effectively freeze the sale of jets from Boeing to Iran.

The first Boeing planes are scheduled to arrive in 2018.

CNNMoney (Dubai) First published March 27, 2017: 1:10 PM ET

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How long can Boeing's Iran deal survive? - CNNMoney

DUBAI--Iran on Sunday sanctioned 15 American companies in retaliation for restrictions that the Trump administration imposed on companies and people allegedly connected with its ballistic-missile program.

Iran had vowed reciprocal action soon after the Trump administration's move last month, one of several escalations between Iran and the U.S. since President Donald Trump took office in January.

The new strains could hamper regional peacemaking efforts, roll back the Obama administration's nuclear diplomacy with Iran, and even lead the countries into more direct confrontation.

Iran is deeply involved in the six-year Syrian civil war, and is a key player along with the U.S. in international talks toward a political solution. During Mr. Obama's administration, Iran reached a nuclear deal with six world powers including the U.S. that edged toward repairing a long-frayed relationship.

Mr. Trump, however, promised to rip up the nuclear deal during his campaign. Last month, he tweeted that Iran was "on notice" over its ballistic-missile program. Iran was also among the Muslim-majority countries whose citizens were barred from entering the U.S. under two executive orders that the Trump administration said aimed to keep terrorists out. Those orders have been stayed by federal judges.

Iran's sanctions on Sunday mainly targeted American defense companies, including the Massachusetts-based defense giant Raytheon Co., the Minnesota-based firearms manufacturer Magnum Research Inc., and Illinois firearms manufacturer Lewis Machine and Tool Co., singling them out for allegedly helping Israel and contributing to regional instability, according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency, citing a Foreign Ministry statement.

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Other companies sanctioned included Denver-based real-estate giant Re/Max Holdings Inc., which the ministry said had a role in Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories. Re/Max and the other companies didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

Dealings with the named companies were prohibited, the ministry said, and their assets in the Islamic Republic were frozen. Representatives for the companies wouldn't be given visas, it said.

It wasn't clear if any of the companies had any ongoing business with the country or assets that could be frozen.

Tehran called the Trump administration's sanctions in February an affront to its right to self-defense and a violation of 2015's nuclear deal. Under that deal--a foreign-policy priority for the Obama administration--the U.S., European Union and United Nations lifted many sanctions against Iran in exchange for curbs on its disputed nuclear program.

"The imposition of new sanctions by the U.S. is based on fabricated and illegitimate pretexts and amounts to an action against international regulations as well as the word and spirit of the [nuclear deal]," Iran's Foreign Ministry said, according to IRNA.

A U.N. Security Council resolution endorsing the nuclear deal called upon Iran not to develop ballistic missiles designed to be capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Iran has continued to conduct ballistic missile tests since the deal, insisting that the weapons are for self-defense and aren't designed to carry such warheads.

Trump administration officials have said Iran's tests, including one in January, were violations of the U.N. resolution.

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Iran Imposes Sanctions on 15 US Firms - Fox Business

Iran says Bahrain had better stop suppressing freedom within its own border instead of throwing groundless accusations against the Islamic Republic.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi made the remarks on Monday after Manama claimed to have uncovered a terrorist group linked to Tehran.

The spokesman called the accusation a baseless and fruitless lie saying it was a source of wonder that Bahraini authorities still insisted on repeating such claims against Iran.

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Instead of [playing] fruitless and repetitive blame games, Bahrain had better direct its efforts towards observing the rights of Bahraini citizens, ending crackdown and detention of intellectuals, and according freedom of speech to all the ranks within the Bahraini society, he said.

The official advised Manama towork toward managingits domestic affairs in a wiser, more tactful, and rational manner and observethe principle of good neighborliness with the Islamic Republic.

The kingdom has been leading a ruthlesscrackdown against domestic dissent since 2011, killing scores of protesters with the help of Saudi Arabia.

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Iran dismisses Bahraini 'lies' against Tehran - Press TV