Obama: New Sanctions Against Iran Guarantee Diplomatic Failure

On Tuesday night, January 30, U.S. President Barack Obama, in his annual address to Congress, reiterated his opposition to adding sanctions against Iran, threatening to veto such actions. Obama stated, "New congressional sanctions would completely guarantee the failure of diplomacy and isolate the U.S. from its allies, certainly leading to the resumption of Iran's nuclear program; there is no wisdom in this matter." He emphasized that for this reason, he would veto any new sanctions that obstruct diplomatic progress. The President, speaking to a Congress where Republicans hold a majority in both chambers, added: "The American people expect that recourse to the option of war should only be a last resort, and I intend to respect this wisdom of the people." Since the beginning of 2015, Obama has mentioned vetoing seven congressional bills, one of which is a proposal by several members of Congress regarding new sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Following Obama's warning about vetoing the sanctions bill, the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, responsible for drafting sanctions legislation, canceled its Tuesday morning meeting. The next date for this meeting has been announced as January 29. Emphasizing the resolution of disputes with Iran, Obama, in his sixth annual address to the joint session of Congress, once again clearly stressed his administration's will to end the nuclear issue of the Islamic Republic of Iran through diplomatic means. He reiterated the necessity of testing diplomacy in this area, stating in his lengthy speech that lasted over an hour, the importance of avoiding unwanted options and giving political efforts a chance. Obama said: "In relation to Iran, where for the first time in a decade our diplomacy has become active, we have managed to halt the progress of Iran's nuclear program and reduce its nuclear stockpile." The U.S. President added: "From now until next spring, we have the chance for a comprehensive agreement that prevents Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, secures the safety of the U.S. and its allies, including Israel, and avoids another war in the Middle East." Obama emphasized that there are no guarantees for the success of these discussions, and he has all options on the table to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. In his sixth annual address, Obama also mentioned the end of the war in Afghanistan, stating that for the first time since September 11, 2001, the U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan has ended. He noted: "Six years ago, nearly 180,000 U.S. combat troops were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and today, fewer than 15,000 American soldiers are present in these two countries. We all owe the courage and sacrifice of the men and women of the September 11 generation who secured our safety." Obama also defended his decision to normalize relations with Cuba after more than fifty years of severed ties, calling it beneficial for promoting freedom and improving the lives of Cuban citizens. In this lengthy speech, he emphasized the U.S. decision to combat terrorism around the world and condemned what he called "Mr. Putin's aggression in Ukraine," reiterating his administration's support for the people of Ukraine and America's European allies. Obama called for a "new leadership" in America that blends military power with strong diplomacy. The 44th President of the United States, in his remarks to the 114th Congress, also requested legal powers to fight the militants of the "Islamic State" (formerly ISIS) and a new congressional bill to combat cyberattacks. Obama stated: "I ask this Congress to show the world that we are a united government by passing the bill to delegate powers for the use of force against ISIS." Obama dedicated the majority of his speech to domestic issues, urging Americans to turn the page on years of economic difficulties, terrorism, and prolonged wars, and to think about smarter American leadership in the world and economic growth. He said: "Now it is up to us to choose what we want to be for the next fifteen years and the decades to come. Do we accept an economy that only a minority significantly benefits from, or will we commit to an economy that generates income for all and creates equal opportunities for everyone?" The highlight of Obama's domestic policy remarks was the proposal to increase taxes on investment income for families earning over half a million dollars a year. Most of the $320 billion in revenue from this new tax will be spent to assist low-income families. On Tuesday night, following Obama's speech, Senator Joni Ernst, a new Republican senator from Iowa, in a response speech on behalf of her party, called for cooperation between the White House and Congress, stating: "If the government cooperates with the legislative branch, many achievements will be made." However, she did not find the President's economic plans particularly promising.