Senate GOP Aims to Force Vote on Iran Sanctions

Trying to Slip Sanctions Text into Veterans Benefits Bill

Though most of the momentum for a vote died weeks ago, hawks among the Senate GOP are trying to force a vote on Iran sanctions by slipping the text of their proposed sanctions into an unrelated bill.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R – KY) insisted that imposing sanctions on Iran was a “very time sensitive matter.” Majority Leader Harry Reid (D – NV) had said he was open to “relevant amendments” to the veterans benefits bill, though he didn’t explicitly rule out a vote on the sanctions.

The sanctions would deliberately violate the interim nuclear deal with Iran, killing the interim deal as well as ongoing negotiations on a permanent settlement. The bill has been regularly endorsed by Israeli Lobby factions, though as momentum slowed AIPAC said they wanted the vote to wait until the interim deal expires.

President Obama has promised to veto the sanctions, and Senate hawks from both parties have suggested they would try to override the veto. Though it is unclear how close a veto override vote is right now, even the possibility could seriously harm negotiations, since the US can’t be counted on to keep any promises it makes so long as hawks are determined to cancel the deal.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.