Increased Likelihood of Approval for Iran and Russia Sanctions Due to Trump Son's Meeting with Russian Lawyer

Several senior lawmakers in the United States say that the incident involving Donald Trump's son and a Russian lawyer during the U.S. elections has increased the likelihood of final approval for sanctions against Iran and Russia. The Trump administration has objected to parts of these sanctions. Reuters reports, citing several U.S. lawmakers, including senior members of both the Democratic and Republican parties in Congress, that these sanctions may be voted on this week. The Iran sanctions bill and the Russia amendment passed in the Senate with a high vote of 98 in favor to 2 against, but faced obstacles in the House of Representatives. On July 9, a senior White House official announced that the U.S. government is seeking to make changes to this plan. The Senate's resolution requires the U.S. President to seek Congressional approval to reduce or end sanctions against Russia. The White House states that it has no objection to the sanctions, but granting more authority for their implementation to Congress, rather than the administration, undermines diplomatic efforts. Previously, the website Axios reported that the White House is concerned that this plan would 'tie Donald Trump's hands in negotiations with Russia.' Now, after Donald Trump Jr. published emails exchanged regarding the meeting with the Russian lawyer, the likelihood of a final Congressional vote on the plan has increased. Ben Cardin, a senior Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated that 'what has happened around Donald Trump Jr. emphasizes the nature of Russian operations.' Moscow is accused of interfering in last year's U.S. presidential elections, which the Russian government has denied. The meeting between Trump Jr. and several senior members of his campaign occurred after a Russian lawyer claimed to have damaging information about Hillary Clinton's campaign. According to the exchanged emails, a person named Rob Goldstone, known for lobbying, told Donald Trump Jr. that providing this information was part of Russia's support for Mr. Trump. Trump Jr. responded, 'If it's what you say, I love it,' and subsequently had a meeting with the Russian lawyer. Previously, a spokesperson for Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, stated in response to this meeting that the Kremlin has no information about the identity of the lawyer in question and 'we cannot oversee all activities of Russian lawyers, either in this country or abroad.' Trump Jr. also described the atmosphere created as 'ridiculous' and 'exaggerated' in an interview with Fox News, stating that his father had no knowledge of the meeting last year. A senior Republican member of the House of Representatives told Reuters that the incident involving Trump Jr. and the Russian lawyer 'certainly does not help the administration in this situation.' Mr. Cardin emphasized that the sanctions plan should be approved due to 'Russia's interference in last year's elections, the occupation of parts of Ukraine and Georgia, and support for the Syrian government.' However, the director of the legislative affairs section at the White House told Axios that the plan is 'so poorly drafted that no government, whether Republican or Democrat, can comfortably implement it, as it broadly undermines the administration's diplomatic efforts.' Reuters, citing advisors and aides to members of the House from both the Democratic and Republican parties, reports that negotiations regarding the sanctions between the two parties are ongoing, and with the publication of the report concerning Trump Jr. and his emails, these negotiations have accelerated. Steny Hoyer, a senior Democratic representative in the House, has suggested that a vote may take place this week.