More US senators have supported an anti-Iran bill that would impose more sanctions on Tehran if an interim nuclear deal recently reached in Geneva between Iran and the P5+1 nations fails.
Despite the six-month agreement and the Obama administrationâ„¢s opposition, 59 senators are now backing the bill that would demand more pressure on Iran over its nuclear energy program.
Bipartisan legislation was initially introduced by Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.).
Sources tracking the legislation believe that many Democrats remain on the sidelines due to the administrationâ„¢s opposition to new Iran sanctions while international negotiations continue over a permanent nuclear deal.
Å“I guess they are responding to administrationâ„¢s request not to pass new sanctions. I think thatâ„¢s crazy. I think that the current sanctions are becoming slowly but surely unraveled,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
The Obama administration has threatened to veto the legislation, labeling it as a serious threat to the diplomatic efforts to resolve the decade-long dispute with Tehran.
A spokeswoman for the National Security Council criticized the Senateâ„¢s move saying the senators who admit the anti-Iran bill want war with the country while the US public opinion opposes any more conflict in the Middle East.
Å“If certain members of Congress want the United States to take military action, they should be up front with the American public and say so,” Bernadette Meehan said in a statement posted by The Huffington Post. Å“Otherwise, itâ„¢s not clear why any member of Congress would support a bill that possibly closes the door on diplomacy and makes it more likely that the United States will have to choose between military options or allowing Iranâ„¢s nuclear program to proceed.”
Tehran has said the 24 November agreement will be dead if a sanctions bill passes Congress.
ARA/ARA
Source: Press TV