WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama has urged the lawmakers to avoid imposing new sanctions on Iran, saying diplomacy should be given a chance in resolving the Iranian nuclear issue.
“My preference is for peace and diplomacy and this is one of the reasons why I’ve sent a message to Congress that now is not the time for us to impose new sanctions,” Obama made the remarks during a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in the White House.
“Now is the time for us to allow the diplomats and technical experts to do their work,” Obama said.
On Sunday, the US President threatened that he would veto any legislation the Congress pushes for further sanctions against Iran.
In December, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez and Senator Mark Kirk introduced a bill in Senate, that so far have got the support of 59 senators, which would impose more sanctions on Iran if an interim nuclear deal reached on November 24 in the Swiss city of Geneva between Iran and the six world powers fails.
The bill proposes boycotting Iranian oil exports and the blacklisting of Iran’s mining, engineering and construction industries.
It also calls for diplomatic, military and economic support to Israel in case Tel Aviv decides to launch an attack against Iran’s nuclear energy program.
On the other hand, Iran insists that it will never negotiate under threats and pressure and if the US Congress passes any new sanctions against the country, the Geneva agreement will be dead.
