US Senate unanimously passes Iran sanctions bill

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) – The Senate on Thursday unanimously voted to approve a 10-year extension of sanctions on Iran.

The 99-0 vote will extend the Iran Sanctions Act, originally passed in 1996, for another decade through 2026 if President Barack Obama signs it into law.

The House of Representatives previously passed the bill and Obama is expected to sign it.

The act was originally slated to expire at year’s end.

Lawmakers have said that the extension is intended to give Washington the ability to punish Iran should it fall short of its obligations under a nuclear deal it brokered with world powers, or if Tehran should run afoul of U.S. policy.

Republican lawmaker Bob Corker, who chairs the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement that the extension “gives us the ability to reimpose the sanctions the Obama administration lifted to implement the Iran nuclear deal and ensures President-elect [Donald] Trump and his administration have the tools necessary to push back against the regime’s hostile actions.

“I am pleased by the overwhelming support this bill received in both the House and Senate and look forward to continuing our work to hold Tehran accountable,” he added.

Corker is reportedly being considered for the next Secretary of State.