US House approves bills on Georgia intelligence probe, Iran drone restrictions

The US House of Representatives has passed legislation requiring an investigation into alleged Russian and Chinese intelligence activities in Georgia, alongside two additional measures targeting Iran, according to proceedings held on June 8.

The Georgia-related bill calls for the US administration to conduct a detailed assessment of foreign intelligence operations in the country. If approved by the Senate, it would require the Secretary of State, the Director of the National Security Agency, and the Secretary of Defence to submit a classified report within 180 days of enactment, Caliber.Az reports. 

The report would examine the presence of Russian and Chinese intelligence networks in Georgia, as well as any potential overlap or coordination between Moscow and Beijing’s influence in the country.

A similar provision has also been incorporated into the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which has already advanced through the House Armed Services Committee and now awaits Senate consideration.

In separate votes, the House also approved two Iran-focused bills. One seeks to prevent the use of US and European technologies in the production of Iranian drones, requiring federal agencies to develop mechanisms to detect and block the supply of sensitive components.

The second measure mandates monitoring of Iranian government activities linked to incitement and extremism, with regular reporting on entities potentially involved in promoting violence.

All three bills now move to the US Senate, where lawmakers will decide whether to advance them to the president for final approval.

By Sabina Mammadli