(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - “The Senate must be prepared to move forward with a new bipartisan Iran sanctions bill when the Senate returns after the Thanksgiving recess, and I am committed to do so,” Reid said, reported ABC News.
Reid said it’s critical for the Senate to “leave our legislative options open” if the P5+1 negotiations are not successful.
“A number of senators have offered their own amendments on Iran in the defense authorization bill, and I know that other senators also have their own sanctions bills. 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,” Reid said.
“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,” Reid added.
The State Department welcomed Reid’s decision to wait until after negotiations to enact new sanctions.
“We are pleased that Senator Reid — Leader Reid is holding off on additional sanctions legislation until after the current round of negotiations are completed,” spokeswoman Jen Psaki said during today’s press briefing.
“We hope that Leader Reid will continue to give the president and our P-5 plus one negotiating partners the space they need to pursue these negotiations in the future if necessary. ”
If there’s no deal in Geneva this week, it’s unclear whether the administration will continue to ask for a “pause” in sanctions.
“About what would happen after a next round – I don’t want to speculate on that. We’ll see where we are and if we need to ask for more space to pursue the negotiations or where we are — after the next round,” Psaki said, when asked whether the administration’s view on sanctions hinges on what happens in Geneva in the coming days.
But if the talks “fail,” broadly speaking, the administration would be “leading the charge” for more sanctions, Psaki said.
A bipartisan group of senators said they are determined to pass bipartisan legislation regarding sanctions against Iran in the near future.
/106
