By Salvatore Caputo

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix Online

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords ( D-District 8 ) is joining a bipartisan working group that will oversee implementation and enforcement of U.S.-approved sanctions against Iran aimed at getting the Islamic Republic to halt its nuclear weapons program.

“Iran poses a threat to many countries,” she told Jewish News. In addition to deep concern about Iranian threats toward Israel, she said, “If Iran gets nuclear weapons, it could wreak havoc and destruction on our allies and potentially on the United States.”

Giffords, who has served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee since taking office in January 2007, received the invitation to join the working group from Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), the committee chairman, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), the committee’s ranking member.

The group will work with the administration, ambassadors and the legislative branch to implement and enforce the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act, which Giffords co-sponsored. The bill was signed into law in June by President Obama.

“In a Congress and political climate that’s extremely partisan and nasty and politically divisive, we are united – Democrats and Republicans, House and Senate – on enforcement of U.S.-approved sanctions on Iran,” she said.

She said the law imposes tough economic sanctions to dissuade Iran from continuing its nuclear program. The act targets businesses that support Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s illicit nuclear program or its support for terrorism.