Supporters of legislation to strengthen Iran sanctions are stepping up the pressure on President Barack Obama and Tehran, pressing the case for new sanctions and expressing doubts about the president's warnings that such congressional action could lead to war.
On Friday, Obama threatened to veto new sanctions legislation regarding Iran's nuclear program, warning it would undermine negotiations with the Islamist regime and possibly lead to another military engagement in the Middle East.
Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, expressed doubts about Mr. Obama’s ability to negotiate a deal that would stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons,
The Washington Times reported.
"These negotiations were lost right from the get-go when we lessened sanctions and we basically allowed Iran to continue to enrich uranium, contrary to all the U.N. resolutions,"
Johnson said on “Fox News Sunday."
"I do not see a good deal coming out of this administration, and a bad deal is worse than no deal at all. I think imposing additional sanctions is the only way to bring Iran to the negotiating table in good faith," Johnson said.
Meanwhile, Illinois Republican Sen. Mark Kirk and New Jersey Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez continue to press for legislation imposing new sanctions on Iran if it walks away from talks with the United States and five other international powers.
The Senate Banking Committee is set to debate and possibly vote on the measure Thursday,
The Wall Street Journal reported.
"Congress should be aware that if this diplomatic solution fails, then the risks and likelihood this ends up at some point a military confrontation is heightened. And Congress will have to own that as well," the president said.
"So my main message to Congress at this point is, just hold your fire."
British Prime Minister David Cameron, meeting with Obama last week, said he has personally lobbied U.S. senators against sanctions, warning that their imposition "could fracture the international unity there has been."
Menendez and Obama reportedly clashed over the issue at a closed-door meeting of Senate Democrats in Baltimore last week.
Sources at the meeting told
The New York Times that Obama urged senators to stop pursuing sanctions, saying they could derail the talks and lead the international community to blame the United States rather than Iran.
Obama reportedly said he understood the pressures that senators face from donors and others, but he urged lawmakers not to make a move for short-term political gain.
Obama's reference to donors likely was aimed at supporters of Israel — a nation whose government has made preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons one of its top priorities.
Menendez, the Times reported, stood up and said he took "personal offense," saying he had spent two decades working to curb Iranian nuclear ambitions and has always been focused on the long-term implications.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.