Sens. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) filed an amendment to the must-pass defense budget that would extend Congressional sanctions against Iranian regime for 10 additional years.
The sanction set by Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 that expires at the end of 2016 targets the Iranian regime’s intercontinental ballistic missiles program and support for terrorism and not its nuclear program.
The congressional sanctions would not be part of the sanctions terminated or suspended as part of a nuclear deal between regime in Tehran and six world powers.
In another development, Sen. Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has become more critical of the nuclear talks recent days.
Corker has questioned Secretary of State John Kerry’s negotiating skills and has challenged President Barack Obama’s assertion that failing to reach a deal with Iran could lead to war.
Corker has accused the Obama administration of withholding information about the Iranian regime’s nuclear capabilities 10 years from now, after any possible deal expires.
“I think there are legitimate concerns about what happens after year 10, and it makes me concerned that their unwillingness to share that with us means they think it’s something that will undermine the American people’s confidence in what they’re doing,” Corker said during a committee hearing on Wednesday.
The Tennessee Republican has scheduled public hearings and classified briefings for his committee throughout June, in case the six countries negotiating with Iran reach an agreement by the June 30 deadline.
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