Baku Could Face Sanctions for Violating Washington Accords

7 OCT 2025 16:12

A bipartisan bill has been introduced in the US Congress aimed at deterring potential Azerbaijani aggression against Armenia and establishing specific sanctions for violating the peace agreement reached in Washington. The PEACE Act, introduced by Congressman Darrell Issa, Vice Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, aims to strengthen the framework of the agreements reached through the mediation of the administration of US President Donald Trump.

"The PEACE Act establishes real consequences for any violation of the agreement and strengthens the ongoing diplomatic efforts of the Trump administration for the sake of sovereignty and stability," said Congressman Issa. He was joined by Congressman Bilirakis, who emphasized: "This bill supports our Armenian partners, provides for accountability for acts of aggression, and focuses on a peaceful settlement based on respect for sovereignty and regional security."

The main provisions of the bill include several key areas:

Prevention of new aggression: If the US President confirms that Azerbaijan has carried out hostile actions against Armenia, sanctions will be applied against the responsible senior officials, their related structures, and foreign accomplices.
Financial restrictions: The bill targets foreign financial institutions that knowingly support major oil-related transactions for certain Azerbaijani structures.
Protection of humanitarian routes: Exceptions to the sanctions are provided for agricultural products, food, medicine, and medical equipment.
Diplomatic support: Additional sanctions are allowed against individuals or organizations that attempt to undermine or delay the implementation of the peace agreement provided for in this year's joint declaration.
Verification and accountability mechanism: The US President is obliged to periodically report to Congress on any hostile actions and the effectiveness of the applied sanctions.

The bill will be in effect for seven years.

Timothy Jemal, President of Global ARM, welcomed the initiative, stating: "The PEACE Act is of fundamental importance for deterring Azerbaijani aggression and supporting a just and lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan."