BICOM

Key Democratic senators yesterday agreed to delay their support for a bill which would re-impose sanctions on Iran in the event that no agreement is reached with the international community over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

President Obama made it clear during his recent State of the Union address that he would oppose and indeed veto the initiative as he believes it is likely to collapse the current nuclear negotiations. Last week, US House of Representatives Speaker, Republican John Boehner exacerbated tensions between Congress and White House by inviting Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress on the Iranian threat, extending the invitation without the knowledge of the White House.

However, co-author of the legislation to reaffirm Iran sanctions, Senator Robert Menendez yesterday said that he and other Democrats had sent a letter to President Obama assuring that they would not support the bill until after 24 March. Without their support, the bill will not be able to override a Presidential veto. The letter reportedly said, “After March 24, we will only vote for this legislation on the Senate floor if Iran fails to reach agreement on a political framework that addresses all parameters of a comprehensive agreement.”

In November 2013, an interim Joint Plan of Action was concluded between the P5+1 forum (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) and Iran, under which Iran agreed to pause aspects of its nuclear programme in return for a relaxation of some sanctions. The terms of the arrangement were originally intended to last for just six months, but were extended in November until 30 June 2015 after P5+1 representatives and Iranian officials failed to agree a long-term accord on Tehran’s nuclear development.

The current negotiations are aimed at brokering such an arrangement. However, talks between the two sides in Geneva earlier this month are thought to have made little progress. The next round of negotiations is scheduled to take place in February.