More than a quarter of the Senate introduced legislation Thursday that
could raise sanctions on Iran and compel the United States to support
Israel if it launches a pre-emptive attack on the Iranian nuclear
program, defying President Barack Obama and drawing a veto threat.
The bill, sponsored by 13 Democrats and 13 Republicans, sets sanctions
that would go into effect if Tehran violates the nuclear deal it reached
with world powers last month or lets the agreement expire without a
long-term accord. The measures include a global boycott on Iranian oil
exports within one year and the blacklisting of Iran's mining,
engineering and construction industries.
The goal, according to supporters, is to strengthen the negotiating
leverage of the Obama administration as it seeks to pressure Iran into a
comprehensive agreement next year that would eliminate the risk of the
Islamic republic developing nuclear weapons. But it could also create
added complications for U.S. negotiators, who promised Iran no new
economic sanctions for the duration of the six-month interim pact that
was finalized on Nov. 24 in Geneva.
