The American Israel Public Affairs Committee said it was “essential” for Congress to pass new Iran sanctions now that a deadline for nuclear talks has been extended.
“Congress delayed enacting additional sanctions over the past year to give negotiations a chance,” AIPAC said in a statement Nov. 24 after the world powers and Iran announced in Vienna that talks would be extended until June 30.
“It is now essential that Congress take up new bipartisan sanctions legislation to let Tehran know that it will face much more severe pressure if it does not clearly abandon its nuclear weapons program,” the pro-Israel lobbying group said. “We urge Congress to play its traditional and critical role to ensure that a final agreement truly eliminates any path for Iran to build a nuclear weapon.”
AIPAC backed enhanced sanctions earlier this year but dropped its active lobbying for them once it became clear that the Democratic-led Senate would not allow sanctions to pass.
The sanctions as then outlined would kick in only if Iran violated the terms of the interim agreement governing the nuclear talks or walked away from the talks. But the Obama administration opposed the sanctions, saying they would scuttle delicate negotiations.
Leaders of the Republican majority in the incoming Senate have said they will not oppose any new attempt to pass the sanctions, although reaching a filibuster-proof majority is unlikely without bipartisan support.
In a statement almost simultaneous with the AIPAC statement, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, suggested that he would back a bid to pass new sanctions.
“The cycle of negotiations, followed by an extension, coupled with sanctions relief for Iran has not succeeded,” Menendez said.
Menendez was one of the lead sponsors of this year’s enhanced sanctions bill, but pulled back under pressure from the Senate Democratic leadership. — jta