(JTA) The American Israel Public Affairs Committee said Monday that with the extension of the deadline for nuclear talks, "It is now essential that Congress take up new bipartisan sanctions legislation to let Tehran know that it will face much more severe pressure if it does not clearly abandon its nuclear weapons program." "Congress delayed enacting additional sanctions over the past year to give negotiations a chance....We urge Congress to play its traditional and critical role to ensure that a final agreement truly eliminates any path for Iran to build a nuclear weapon." Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, suggested Monday that he would back a bid to pass new sanctions. "The cycle of negotiations, followed by an extension, coupled with sanctions relief for Iran has not succeeded....I intend to work with my Senate colleagues in a bipartisan manner in the coming weeks to ensure that Iran comprehends that we will not ever permit it to become a threshold nuclear state."
2014-11-25 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive