New York, NY, December 15, 2011 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed the overwhelming support in the U.S. House of Representatives for a bill that would increase sanctions against Iran and demand that it stop efforts to obtain nuclear weapons.

The Iran Threat Reduction Act (H.R. 1905), passed with overwhelming bipartisan support by a vote of 410 to 11, escalates and sharpens sanctions against Iran and presses the Iranian regime to abandon its nuclear weapons quest.

"We express our appreciation to the 410 members of the House for their support in enhancing the arsenal of U.S. sanctions on Iran's financial system and on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "As Congress understands, Iran's march to nuclear weapons capability is undeniable. The passage of this legislation by an overwhelming bipartisan majority raises a resounding voice warning about the consequences for the U.S. and its allies of allowing nuclear weapons in the hands of this brutal and repressive regime."

The League congratulated the legislation's cosponsors, Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Howard Berman (D-CA), and praised members of the House for acting. The bill, which is a modified version of one approved by the U.S. Senate earlier this month, will return to the U.S. Senate for a final vote.