WASHINGTON — Hawkish Senate Democrats are backing off an aggressive push for Iran sanctions legislation, saying they’ll give President Barack Obama breathing room to let international talks play out over Iran’s nuclear program.
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) said Tuesday that he and nine other Democrats told Obama they will pull their support for a sanctions bill until at least after March 24, when international negotiators aim to reach a deal with Iran to curb its ability to develop a nuclear weapon. Menendez and Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) are coauthors of the legislation, which would impose new sanctions on Iran if international talks fall apart. Negotiations have been underway for about 18 months.
“This morning, many of my Democratic colleagues and I have sent a letter to the president telling him that we will not support passage of the Kirk-Menendez bill on the Senate floor until after March 24 and only if there is no political framework agreement,” Menendez said during a Senate Banking Committee hearing.
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“I think it’s imperative that we send a signal, at a bare minimum, that any deal that’s negotiated, if there is one, comes to Congress,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). “At the end of the day, if you don’t want to do sanctions, we at least need to do that.”
Ali Watkins contributed reporting.
