U.S. Senate Votes to Extend Iran Sanctions Law

On Thursday, December 2, the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly to extend the Iran sanctions law for another ten years, and the bill is now sent to the White House for the President's signature. This comes after the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic warned less than two weeks ago that he considers the extension of these sanctions a 'violation' of the JCPOA, or the nuclear agreement, and that he would certainly respond to it. The number of supporters for this bill, which began in 1996 and has been renewed every ten years, was 99 in the U.S. Senate, with no senators opposing it. The bill to extend the Iran sanctions law was also passed in the House of Representatives at the end of November, where a decisive majority of 419 representatives voted in favor against one opposing representative. The bill now only requires the signature of the U.S. President to become law, while the White House had announced just one day before the Senate's action that Barack Obama would need to study it before deciding on signing it. However, Reuters reports, citing aides to U.S. congressional representatives, that Mr. Obama is expected to sign the bill. Previously, Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, had reacted to the extension of Iran's sanctions and considered it a 'violation' of the nuclear agreement. On the other hand, Reuters writes that members of Congress and U.S. government officials believe that extending the Iran sanctions law does not violate the nuclear agreement. According to this news agency, while the White House has not insisted on extending this law, it has also not opposed it significantly, with one senior U.S. official stating, 'While we think extending the Iran sanctions law is unnecessary, we also do not believe this action contradicts the nuclear agreement.' Reuters also cites 'Democrats in favor of the JCPOA' stating that the extension of the sanctions law is 'not a violation' of the JCPOA and is, in fact, merely a continuation of sanctions that have been in place for years. The news agency quotes Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat, stating that America's 'allies' in the nuclear agreement have not opposed the extension of the sanctions law either. Coons refers to other members of the P5+1 group, namely the UK, France, Russia, China, and Germany. The American newspaper New York Times also quotes a White House official stating that the extension of the sanctions law 'does not affect the U.S. commitment to the JCPOA,' and the Secretary of State will also have the authority to halt any nuclear sanctions in this law. In this context, the White House stated: After the Senate's approval, Obama will decide on signing the 'Iran Sanctions Law.' Takht-Ravanchi: If the U.S. moves towards violating the JCPOA, we will not sit idly by. Iran denied conducting 'new negotiations regarding the provisions of the nuclear agreement.' Senator McConnell: The Senate will vote on the extension of the 'Iran Sanctions Law' this week. Salehi: In the event of a violation of the JCPOA, we can reach significant enrichment within a year and a half.