Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) is calling for President Obama to move forward with new sanctions against Iran over a pair of recent ballistic missile tests, according to a January 11, 2016 report on The Hill.
“I don’t know why the administration has hesitated, but I am urging them publicly and privately to move ahead with those designations,” he told reporters. “I am concerned with the hesitation to move forward with the ballistic missile related designations.”
Coons is among a growing number of Democrats, including some who supported the Iran nuclear deal, who have called on the president to take a firm response to two missile tests late last year. They argue that the administration’s response should show Iran that it will not be able to cheat on the nuclear agreement.
Coons, who supported the Iran nuclear deal, said it was “very clearly communicated and it played a role in my decision” to support the nuclear agreement that the United States was still able to sanction Iran on non-nuclear issues including its missile program or support for terrorist groups.
The administration has gotten bipartisan criticism over its handling of the Iranian missile tests, which lawmakers say violate United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Senate Republicans are calling on Obama to block lifting sanctions under the deal because of the recent ballistic missile tests, rejecting the administration’s argument that the two are separate issues. The move would likely undermine the nuclear agreement.