HERSHEY, UNITED STATES--The US Senate will begin debate within weeks on whether to slap new sanctions on Iran and demand congressional approval power over any nuclear deal reached with Tehran, a top lawmaker said Thursday.
"I think some time toward end of January, beginning of February you'll see something being debated on the Senate floor," Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Corker told reporters at a Republican retreat in Hershey, Pennsylvania, two hours outside Washington.
Two distinct paths are being crafted in Congress for putting pressure on Iran's leadership in the midst of critical nuclear negotiations aimed at preventing Iran from developing a nuclear bomb in return for an easing of global sanctions.
The parties include the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany -- the so-called P5+1 group -- and the Islamic republic.
One Senate track, backed by Corker, envisages adoption of a bill requiring US President Barack Obama to submit any nuclear accord reached with Iran to a congressional vote.
For the international agreement to enter force, Congress would need to give its stamp of approval, according to Corker's legislation.
"To me that's the strongest way to ensure the administration negotiates strongly towards an agreement that again will pass the test of time and keep Americans safe," Corker said.
The alternative track, pushed by Senate Democrat Robert Menendez and Republican Senator Mark Kirk, two foreign relations hawks, centers on deferred economic sanctions that would kick in if Tehran refuses to sign a final deal or is seen as violating its terms.
The sanctions track is vehemently opposed by the Obama administration, which does not want its hands bound as it negotiates the accord.
The two tracks' proponents are quietly trying to rally lawmakers to their side.
Corker's bill will be introduced through his foreign relations panel, while deferred sanctions will be addressed in the Banking Committee.
After going through committee, each of the bills could be amended, and possibly merged into one before debate on the Senate floor.
But Corker, a key figure in the Iran legislation debate, signalled his distrust of the sanctions approach -- and said other lawmakers were just as wary.
"I think many people are going to hold their powder dry on that, at least for a while," he said.
On Monday, Washington's UN envoy Samantha Power warned Congress that ratcheting up sanctions against Iran would likely torpedo the nuclear negotiations.
Iran and the P5+1 have given themselves until June 30 to reach a comprehensive agreement.
The negotiations resume Sunday in Geneva.
AFP
