Senators Want New Sanctions After Iran Talks Show Some Possible Progress

Senate Foreign Relations Chair Bob Menendez
(D-NJ) has called for more sanctions against Iran as the latest
round of talks in Geneva over the country’s nuclear program ended
and another was scheduled for the end of the month. Menendez was
joined by Republican Lindsey Graham and other senators who have
been gunning for tougher sanctions.

From Fox News:

Senate leaders showed bipartisan support Sunday for
tougher sanctions on Iran following failed talks this weekend
toward curtailing that country’s nuclear-development program, but
also indicated they would likely wait until after talking to
Secretary of State John Kerry.

Kerry and other Western leaders wrapped up talks Sunday after
failing to agree on a deal, which purportedly stalled when France
rejected a list of demands on Iran because they were too generous
to mean an easing of international sanctions.

Administration officials led by Vice President Joe Biden and
including Kerry had persuaded senators late last month to delay
considering a new round of penalties until after the Geneva
talks.

Kerry joined the talks in Geneva Friday to
lower expectations; negotiators on all sides had been
cautiously optimistic about reaching a deal
earlier this week. The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin
Netanyahu, meanwhile, had warned about Iran getting the “deal
of the century.”

Menendez said the US shouldn’t be or appear more interested in a
making a deal than Iran in defending the argument for more
sanctions.

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