Sputnik- House of Representatives speaker Paul Ryan said that the US Congress has passed a bill seeking to extend sanctions on Iran for another ten years.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik)�� The US Congress has passed a bill seeking to�extend sanctions on�Iran for�another ten years, House of�Representatives speaker Paul Ryan said in�a statement. "Today�s bipartisan vote will help maintain our ability to�immediately reinstate sanctions against�Iran over�the next decade," Ryan stated on�Tuesday. House Committee on�Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul said in�a statement the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA), which was enacted some 20 years ago, is a core element of�the US effort to�counter "Iranian aggression."

The congressman noted that the new bill "extends sanctions for�ten years on�Iran�s illicit weapons programs and ballistic missile development that were not suspended as�part of�the Obama administration�s flawed nuclear deal."

In July 2015, Iran signed a historic deal with�the P5+1 group of�countries, comprising the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom plus Germany, to�maintain a peaceful nature of�nuclear program in�exchange for�sanctions relief. Under the agreement, some sanctions, including embargoes on�gas and oil trade, were lifted off�Iran in�exchange for�compliance with�safety guidelines on�Tehran's nuclear program. The accord allowed Iran to�resume its petroleum exports and implementation of�a number of�frozen projects in�the sphere of�energy.