U.S. Senate to Move on New Iran Sanctions in December
The U.S. Senate will move to impose new sanctions on Iran in December if nuclear negotiations between Western powers and Tehran do not bear fruit, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced Thursday.
"The Senate must be prepared to move forward with a new bipartisan Iran sanctions bill when the Senate returns after the Thanksgiving recess. I'm prepared to do just that," Reid said.
The ongoing talks in Geneva are seen as the best hope in years to resolve the standoff over Iran's controversial nuclear program after a decade of rising tensions.
Iran and world powers locked horns Thursday in the intense and difficult talks on a preliminary nuclear accord, but both sides described the gathering as constructive.
President Barack Obama's administration has leaned heavily on Congress to hold fire on new sanctions legislation in order to give negotiations a chance to succeed, sending Secretary of State John Kerry to Capitol Hill multiple times to warn lawmakers off such a move.
Senators, including some anxious Democrats, agreed to temporarily hold off on the new sanctions.
Reid's announcement that the delay would end next month could be interpreted as a spur for Iran to reach a deal with the west or face even tougher punitive economic measures.
"While I support the administration's diplomatic effort, I believe we need to leave our legislative options open to act on a new, bipartisan sanctions bill in December, shortly after we return" from a break, Reid told his colleagues.
"I will support a bill that would broaden the scope of our current petroleum sanctions; place limitations on trade with strategic sectors of the Iranian economy that support its nuclear ambitions, as well as pursue those who divert goods to Iran."
Source: Agence France Presse
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