October 21, 2013 | Quote

Senators Pledge to Defy White House on Iran Sanctions

Republican senators say they will defy President Obama and push for a bill to toughen sanctions against Iran despite White House objections that any new legislation should wait until after the current round of talks run their course.

The coming confrontation could impact whether Iran's nuclear program can be curtailed through talks that restarted this week in Geneva instead of military action.

Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois, a junior member of the Senate banking committee that is considering the bill, said the end of talks in Geneva this week with no change in Iranian behavior means the Senate should move forward on toughening sanctions despite White House objections.

The proposed legislation is likely to be discussed in the Senate banking committee after the Senate reconvenes from its recess Oct. 28. It would target Iran's revenues, foreign currency reserves and Iran's currency, the rial, to “lock down the funds that Iran needs to forestall a severe economic and financial crisis, said Mark Dubowitz, executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, who is familiar with the Senate proposal. 

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Issues:

Iran Iran Sanctions