WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Senate will start deliberations on further sanctions against Iran in December, revving up the pressure on the Obama administration to close a deal over curbing the Islamic republic's nuclear program.
The Senate must be prepared to move forward with a new bipartisan Iran sanctions bill, when the Senate returns after Thanksgiving recess, said Harry Reid, the chamber's majority leader, on the Senate floor.
And I am committed to do so, he added. 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.
Iran is having talks in Geneva, the third round of its kind since October, with Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany, known as the P5+1, about restrictions over its nuclear program in exchange for eased sanctions. Expectations are high for a deal though officials are talking about gaps still needed to be closed.
The Obama administration has been advising against fresh sanctions on Iran to allow for more diplomacy, warning of unintended consequences from military options.
The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in late July to impose punitive new sanctions against Iran with a view to ending by 2015 all of its oil exports, the country's lifeline.
Reid said he believes that the current sanctions have brought Iran to the negotiating table, and that he supports the Obama administration's current negotiations.
I believe we must do everything possible to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons capability, which would threaten Israel and the national security of the United States, he said.
However, we are also aware of the possibility that the Iranians could keep the negotiations from succeeding, he added. 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.