The Senate bill was introduced by Senators Robert Menendez and Mark Kirk.
The number of American senators supporting an anti-Iran sanctions bill has increased to 53, showing efforts in the United States in order to derail nuclear negotiations.
The latest count from the Library of Congress showed on Thursday that the bipartisan bill that had 26 supporters when introduced last month has the backing of 53 lawmakers.
The Senate bill, introduced by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez and Sen. Mark Kirk, drew seven backers before the December recess and 20 more this week, The Hill reported.
The latest senators who signed on Wednesday are John Barrasso, Ron Johnson, John Hoeven, Richard Burr, Michael Bennett and Dean Heller.
The White House said President Barack Obama will veto the bill if it passes.
It is still unclear whether backers can put together the two-thirds majority in the 100-member Senate needed to override a veto by Obama.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has been working to convince more senators to back the measure. Those who have not agreed to co-sponsor the bill are Å“the top targets for AIPACâ„¢s legendary powers of persuasion.”
The bill proposes boycotting Iranian oil exports within a year and the blacklisting of Iran’s mining, engineering and construction industries.
The Senate bill also calls for “diplomatic, military and economic support” to Israel in case Tel Aviv decides to launch an attack against Iranâ„¢s nuclear energy program.
Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council — the US, Britain, Russia, France and China — plus Germany struck a six-month nuclear agreement in Geneva on November 24, 2013.
The Obama administration has repeatedly stated that the passage of a new sanctions bill would not only violate the spirit, if not the letter, of the interim nuclear deal, it would also cast serious doubt on Washingtonâ„¢s Å“good faith” in negotiations.
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Source: Press TV