Senator McConnell: The U.S. Senate Will Also Extend the 'Iran Sanctions Act'

Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican majority leader in the U.S. Senate, stated on Wednesday that the proposal to extend the 'Iran Sanctions Act' for ten years will also be approved in the Senate. The day before, members of the U.S. House of Representatives extended the 'Iran Sanctions Act,' which was enacted in 1996 to penalize investors in Iran's energy sector, with a vote of 419 in favor and one against. The 'Iran Sanctions Act' will expire if it is not renewed by December 31. According to Reuters, McConnell said at a press conference on Wednesday: 'We will review the House's resolution and will approve it.' The House's resolution regarding the extension of the 'Iran Sanctions Act' must be approved by the U.S. Senate and then signed by the President. The U.S., along with five other global powers, signed a nuclear agreement with Iran (JCPOA) last year in Vienna. Under this agreement, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program in exchange for the international community lifting nuclear sanctions against Tehran. Meanwhile, members of the U.S. Congress are calling for the 'Iran Sanctions Act' to remain valid to counter Iran's actions in the region and any potential violation of the nuclear agreement by Tehran. According to Reuters, White House officials believe that, given the nuclear agreement with Iran, there is no need to extend the validity of the 'Iran Sanctions Act.' However, they have not stated that extending the 'Iran Sanctions Act' contradicts the nuclear agreement. Republican representatives in the Senate and House have made repeated efforts to counter the JCPOA since it was signed last year, which have yielded no results. Reuters notes that with Donald Trump, the Republican candidate in the presidential election on November 8, winning and the party maintaining a majority in both the Senate and House, the future of the nuclear agreement with Iran is now uncertain. Trump has referred to the nuclear agreement with Iran as one of the 'worst' deals during his campaign. In this context, the U.S. House of Representatives has extended the 'Iran Sanctions Act' for another ten years. Hollande: I don't think Trump will cancel the nuclear agreement with Iran. Obama: Any resolution preventing the sale of passenger planes to Iran will be vetoed.