Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has signed onto a bill that will create new economic sanctions against Iran, but Senate Republicans may struggle to get more Democratic support for the measure.
Illinois GOP Sen. Mark Kirk garnered Schumer's support, but even that is reportedly contingent on other Democrats also signing on such as New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez,
sources close to the negotiations told Politico.
"I intend to co-sponsor it," Schumer said. "But we're having a meeting among the Democrats and figuring out the best strategy."
President Barack Obama has vowed to veto any bill that increases sanctions against Iran while nuclear talks are still underway.
Kirk promised to release a list of bipartisan co-sponsors of the measure Monday night, but Democrats are still hesitant about openly defying Obama. Kirk is hoping that if he can get enough Democratic support, if will send a message to Obama.
"We're at the beginning of the process," said Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat from Pennsylvania who sponsored an Iranian sanctions measure in 2014. "I've looked at it. We'll keep looking at it."
However, he says he doesn't know yet if he will co-sponsor the current bill.
The measure it set to be approved by the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday. Kirk has had no problem finding Republican support.
Some members of the Senate Democratic Caucus have proposed a resolution that creates more sanctions if the current negotiations fall through.
"For those who agree that the sanctions bill in the Banking Committee is detrimental, this resolution provides an option in support of diplomacy," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from California who is a co-author of the resolution along with fellow Democratic Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy.
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