Iran Sanctions Bill Delayed in U.S. Senate Until Late March

Senator Robert Menendez, one of the architects of the intensified sanctions against Iran, stated that he, along with other Democratic senators, will not support the sanctions bill until late March. This prominent American senator mentioned that he and many Democratic lawmakers, who are currently in the minority, have written to President Barack Obama, indicating they will only support the so-called 'Kirk-Menendez' bill to intensify sanctions against Iran after the start of spring, provided there is no political agreement. According to Reuters, Senator Menendez made these remarks on Tuesday, January 27, during a Senate Banking Committee meeting. Barack Obama recently announced that a vote in the U.S. Senate to intensify sanctions against Iran would disrupt nuclear negotiations with the country and stated that he would veto such a bill if passed. Menendez further expressed that he and the Democratic senators remain 'hopeful' that the issue of Iran's nuclear program can be resolved diplomatically, but they 'deeply doubt' that Iran will commit to cooperating on verifying its nuclear program by the end of the negotiation deadline in late June. Iran and six world powers, which reached a six-month nuclear agreement last December, have extended the interim Geneva agreement twice due to the lack of a comprehensive nuclear understanding. The parties are expected to reach a 'political agreement' by March and a comprehensive nuclear agreement by July 1. Both Democratic and Republican senators in the U.S. Senate are working on the sanctions bill against Iran, and if 67 U.S. senators vote for it, the President of the United States will not be able to veto it. American lawmakers state that they want their voices to be heard in the 18-month nuclear negotiations with Iran. Currently, Republicans hold a majority in both houses of Congress, but they have 54 out of 100 Senate seats and need Democratic support for the sanctions bill against Iran. Joe Donnelly, a Democratic senator who supports delaying the sanctions, stated that he cannot support an 'unnecessary' action that undermines the chances of successful negotiations. In related developments, the Obama administration is not cooperating with Congress on increasing sanctions against Iran, emphasizing the effort to reach a 'comprehensive' nuclear agreement with Iran. Senator Corker stated that Congress will continue the sanctions bill against Iran. Lavrov mentioned that there is a possibility that Iran and the P5+1 will reach an agreement by late June. Cohen stated that Iran has lost $11 billion in oil revenue. The U.S. Deputy Secretary of State indicated that there is still a chance for an agreement with Iran. A proposal by 11 U.S. senators for intensified sanctions against Iran in case negotiations fail has been made.