Texas to put more restrictions on trade with Iran after Obama deal

Austin American-Statesman:

In a letter to President Barack Obama, Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday rejected calls to lift state sanctions against Iran, instead insisting that Texas will put additional restrictions on investing and doing business in the Middle Eastern country.

The Obama administration had asked Abbott to review investment and other restrictions on Iran, saying the nuclear deal that took effect in January “will verifiably ensure that Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon and that its nuclear program is and will remain exclusively peaceful,” according to an April 8 letter from Stephen Mull with the U.S. State Department.

Abbott’s reply letter said Texas will maintain its sanctions because he did not trust the Iran deal, which was brokered with the United States, the European Union, England, France, Germany, Russia and China.

“I strongly oppose the Iran deal because it undermines the national security of the United States and its strategic allies abroad — especially our most important Middle East ally, Israel,” Abbott wrote. “Entering into an agreement with a country that consistently calls for ‘death to America’ and repeatedly articulates anti-Semitic policies is short-sighted and ignores geopolitical realities.”

Texas law bans state pension and retirement systems from investing in Iran or companies that do business with Iran.
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Abbot inteds to ask the legislature for a similar on investment by Texas political subdivisions such as cities and counties.   The story does not mention the fraud used by the administration to sell the deal.