Reuters – Dec 2, 2014 – The White House and the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee clashed Tuesday over putting new sanctions on Iran, which is in talks with the U.S. and other powers over its nuclear program.
Sen. Bob Menendez, the chairman of the foreign relations panel, told The Wall Street Journal CEO Council annual meeting he is looking for an opportunity to introduce legislation for new sanctions “well before” March 1. That is the new deadline for a framework agreement for nuclear talks with Iran.
U.S. and international sanctions have hurt Iran’s economy by cutting its oil exports and freezing Iranian banks’ ability to carry out international transactions.
OPEC member Iran has insisted it has a right to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes. But other countries including the U.S. accuse Iran of attempting to develop nuclear weapons.
Menendez said he’d rather be in a negotiation where there is a “real consequence” for not striking a deal.
“Calibrated, prospective sanctions as a message to the Iranians that this cannot continue forever is a good negotiating step,” he said.