The delay in negotiations to force the Iranian regime to comply with international limits on its nuclear program “is further evidence that Iran is not under enough pressure to reach a deal,” U.S. Senator Deb Fischer said in a statement.
Senator Fischer, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said: “Additional measures are necessary to penalize the regime for violating its international obligations in relentlessly pursuing its nuclear ambitions.”
“While we all wish to see a negotiated deal, it is clear that this is unlikely, under the current circumstances. I hope the senate will strengthen the hands of our negotiators with additional sanctions next year.”
The six world powers were unable to reach an agreement with the Iranian regime by Monday’s deadline to prevent the regime from developing a nuclear weapon, and have extended negotiations to July 2015.
Many US House and Senate members reacted with skepticism on Monday after an extension of Iran nuclear talks was given, and they called for new sanctions against the regime in Tehran.
Senator Mark Kirk said in a statement: “Now more than ever, it is critical that Congress enacts sanctions that give Iran’s mullahs no choice but to dismantle their illicit nuclear program.”
“Congress will not give Iran more time to build a nuclear bomb,” he said.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce said Obama should allow new sanctions to serve as increased leverage on the Iranian regime.
“This seven-month extension should be used to tighten the economic vice on Tehran – already suffering from falling energy prices – to force the concessions that Iran has been resisting,” Royce said in a statement.
A report by the International Committee in Search of Justice, published last week, indicated that the Iranian regime’s nuclear program was -from the outset – with military intentions and all its apparent civilian activities were at the service of building a nuclear bomb.
The regime never reported these activities voluntarily to the International Atomic Energy Agency under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
