Special to WorldTribune.com
WASHINGTON — The United States, on the eve of a summit on Teheran’s
nuclear program, has prepared to impose additional sanctions on Iran’s oil
sector.
On May 21, the Senate voted unanimously to approve the latest U.S.
sanctions on Iran’s energy sector. In December 2011, the House passed
similar legislation, and officials said the two bodies of Congress would try
to draft a unified bill for President Barack Obama’s signature.
Congress has been critical over the slow pace of sanctions on Iran,
particularly its energy and banking sectors.
Supporters of the latest
sanctions legislation said this was meant as a warning to Teheran that
Washington would no longer tolerate Iran’s uranium enrichment program.
The Senate bill, revised at the last minute by Republicans, was approved on the eve of a meeting in Baghdad between Iran and world
powers in an effort to resolve the nuclear crisis.
The latest sanctions would extend penalties to foreigners who work with Iran’s state-owned National Iranian Oil Co. and National Iranian Tanker Co., responsible for the export of 2.2 million barrels of oil per day, mostly to China, India, Japan and South Korea.
“This bill is another tool that will demonstrate to Iran that the United
States is not backing down,” Sen. Robert Menendez, an author of the latest
sanctions bill, said.
“Today, the U.S. Senate put Iranian leaders on notice that they must
halt all uranium enrichment activities or face another round of economic
sanctions from the United States,” Sen. Mark Kirk, another coauthor of
the bill, said.
Many in Congress have called on the Obama administration to wield a military option
should the current sanctions regime fail to stop Teheran.
“We need a comprehensive policy,” Sen. John McCain, the ranking
Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said.
U.S. Senate votes unanimously to tighten sanctions on Iran oil added by World Tribune on
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