Israel Matzav

Senate to force Iran sanctions issue by attaching it to defense authorization bill

Several Republican Senators, who are frustrated over the fact that the US Senate Banking Committee has deferred consideration of new sanctions against Iran, may introduce new sanctions against Iran into the defense authorization bill to be considered by the Senate later this week.

Several Republicans, frustrated that the Senate Banking Committee had delayed a tough new sanctions package at the White House’s request, said that they were considering forcing the issue by offering more restrictions on Iran as an amendment to a defense authorization bill expected to come to the Senate floor by the middle of next week.

“That means we get the defense bill on the eve of ‘Geneva, Part Three,’ and all of this back-and-forth between Congress and the White House comes to a head,” a senior Senate aide said.

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Four Republican senators – Mark Kirk of Illinois, Marco Rubio of Florida, John Cornyn of Texas and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire – wrote to Obama expressing deep concern about the negotiations. The letter, obtained by Reuters on Friday, cited reports that Iran would obtain up to $20 billion in sanctions relief but not be required to shut down centrifuges, close facilities or get rid of enriched uranium.

The senators explained their concerns, and said that tough new sanctions should be put in place to increase pressure on Iran.

“Rather than forfeiting our diplomatic leverage, we should increase it by intensifying sanctions until Iran suspends its nuclear and ballistic missile programs in accordance with multiple Security Council resolutions,” the four senators wrote.
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Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told a group of congressmen on Thursday afternoon that he supports new sanctions legislation, and accused the Obama administration of giving away its leverage with Iran through a bad deal. This is the time for more sanctions, he said, adding that Obama was degrading the US-Israel relationship by grasping for “any deal” it could achieve.

“I think it is likely the Senate will debate it in the next couple of weeks,” Cruz told The Jerusalem Post after his speech. “The exact timing is up in the air, but I’m hopeful it’ll be sooner rather than later.”

On whether he thought the bill would proceed independently or as an amendment to the defense authorization bill, Cruz said: “That’s a question still up for debate.”

I'd bet on those sanctions finding their way into the defense authorization bill. This battle is far from over. 

Labels: Iran sanctions regime, Iranian nuclear threat, United States Senate

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:24 AM