US Lawmakers Condemn White House Delay On Iran Sanctions
KABUL: (MEP) US Leading lawmakers, including supporters of President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran, rapped the White House for delaying fresh sanctions on Tehran over its missile program, warning that the move would support it to further destabilize the Middle East.
It came after Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani ordered the accelerated production of missiles in response to reports of possible new sanctions, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.
U.S. officials have told lawmakers the sanctions were delayed because of “evolving diplomatic work” between Washington and Tehran.
US had notified Congress on Wednesday of a plan to impose new financial sanctions on nearly a dozen companies and individuals for their alleged involvement in Iran’s missile program.
I believe in the power of vigorous enforcement that pushes back on Iran’s bad behavior, Senator Chris Coons, Democrat of Delaware, said Friday if we don’t do that, we invite Iran to cheat.
Under the JCPOA, the US is obligated to lift the sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.
American and Iranian diplomats engaged in intensive deliberations to discuss the issue of new sanctions in recent days.
The sanctions would have been the first imposed on Iran since the nuclear agreement was reached in July. U.S. and European officials said that, if imposed, they would test whether Iran’s leader Ayatollah Khamenei was serious about backing away from the deal.
