Sen. Menendez calls for more sanctions against Iran
Senator Robert Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a key architect of anti-Iran sanctions, has called on Congress to consider new economic sanctions against Iran until Tehran dismantles its uranium enrichment program.
�œI think that the possibility of moving ahead with new sanctions, including wording it in such a way that if there is a deal that is acceptable that those sanctions could cease upon such a deal, is possible,” Menendez said Sunday on ABC�™s �œThis Week.”
The hawkish senator said that a new package of sanctions would send the signal to the Islamic Republic that more sanctions would come absent of a nuclear deal.
�œSo I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to move forward on a package that ultimately would send a very clear message where we intend to be if the Iranians don�™t strike a deal.”
Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany concluded a third day of intense negotiations over Tehran�™s nuclear energy program in Geneva on Sunday.
The two sides did not reach an agreement after France blocked a deal with its Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius saying Israel�™s concerns should be taken into consideration. More negotiating sessions are scheduled for November 20.
The White House offered to relax some of the sanctions as nuclear talks got underway between Iran and the six major world powers.
Faced with growing opposition from Congress, President Barack Obama has tried to reassure lawmakers that he only seeks to provide a �œvery modest relief” to Iran and that the current sanctions structure would remain in place as the nuclear talks unfold.
Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), top Republican on Senate Foreign Relations Committee, warned last week that he may introduce legislation making it harder for President Obama to ease the existing sanctions.
�œWe�™ve crafted an amendment to freeze the administration in and make it so they are unable to reduce the sanctions unless certain things occur,” he said.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Sunday that lifting sanctions sends the wrong message to US allies in the region.
�œThe Israelis are apoplectic about what we’re doing,” he said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” �œI’ve never been more worried about the Obama administration’s approach to the Middle East than I am now.”
US lawmakers�™ objection to a diplomatic deal was further reinforced after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced a possible agreement as a �œhistoric blunder.”
Secretary of State John Kerry has said the US will not dismantle the �œcore architecture” of Iran sanctions and that �œwe�™re not in a rush” to strike a deal.
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Source: Press TV