Obama rejects congressional calls for more sanctions on Iran

President Obama, rejecting congressional demands to impose new economic sanctions on Iran, said “there’s no reason to do it right now” when negotiations are under way over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

“Listen, I don’t think the Iranians have any doubt that Congress would be more than happy to pass more sanctions legislation,” Obama said yesterday at a White House news conference. “But if we’re serious about negotiations, we’ve got to create an atmosphere in which Iran is willing to move in ways that are uncomfortable for them.”