In a letter to the US Congress on Tuesday, President Barack Obama extended a "national emergency" with respect to Iran for one year, citing a provision of the relevant act.
The National Emergencies Act provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the US president publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date.
In the letter posted on the website of the White House, Obama said, "In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency with respect to Iran that was declared in Executive Order 12170 of November 14, 1979, is to continue in effect beyond November 14, 2015.
"Our relations with Iran have not yet returned to normal, and the process of implementing the agreements with Iran, dated January 19, 1981, is still underway. For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12170 with respect to Iran."
