The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday easily passed legislation that would tighten sanctions against Iran, a move the Obama administration had warned against over fears that it could put at risk the Iran nuclear agreement.
The committee passed the bill, authored by committee Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., in an 18-3 vote. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., was the only “no” vote among Republicans.
That vote sets up the possibility of a Senate floor vote in the coming weeks.
When Corker introduced the bill in March, he and Republican and Democratic sponsors agreed that tougher steps need to be taken against Iran’s destabilizing actions. Those include ongoing ballistic missile tests in apparent violation of a U.N. Security Council resolution.
“These steps will allow us to regain the initiative on Iran and push back forcefully against this threat to our security and that of our allies,” Corker said.
The bill would impose new mandatory sanctions against people involved with Iran’s ballistic missile program. It would also impose terrorism sanctions against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and block assets of people who trade in prohibited arms with Iran.
Supporters like Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., said then that the bill would avoid any violation of the Iran nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Iran has said any further sanctions would damage Iran’s economy and go against language in the JCPOA aimed at ensuring Iran can pursue economic growth.
But supporters of the agreement have been warning that new sanctions against Iran would put the deal at risk. Former Secretary of State John Kerry tweeted Wednesday that the Senate should “tread carefully” with the bill.
“There are many tools to up the pressure already in place and at our disposal,” he said. “We need to weigh/consider risk to JCPOA.”
7- There are many tools to up the pressure already in place and at our disposal. We need to weigh/consider risk to JCPOA.
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) May 24, 2017
