Kerry opposes additional sanctions on Iran
US secretary of state wants “temporary pause” in imposition of more sanctions amid nuclear negotiations.
Secretary of State John Kerry believes it would be a “mistake” for the US Congress to impose additional sanctions on Iran now amid negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear programme, a State Department spokeswoman said.
Jen Psaki said Kerry, who will hold a closed-door briefing on Iran at the Senate Banking Committee on Wednesday, wants a “temporary pause” in the imposition of additional sanctions on Tehran by US lawmakers to give diplomacy a chance.
Iran and six world powers – the US, Britain, Russia, France, China and Germany – came close to a preliminary nuclear agreement at the weekend during talks in Geneva and decided to resume negotiations on November 20 in their attempt to defuse a decade-old standoff.
Israel and some Western governments fear Iran is using its nuclear programme as a covert means to develop weapons, a charge that Tehran denies.
Negotiators are searching for a preliminary agreement that would cap Iran’s nuclear capacity and open up the programme to UN inspectors.
In exchange, they have offered some relief from sanctions, a concession Iran says does not go far enough.
Under discussion is a temporary deal entailing a freeze to higher-grade uranium enrichment – which Iran bills as fuel for a medical research reactor but which is also potential material for bombs – lasting about six months.
During that time, Iran and the six powers would negotiate a permanent agreement aimed at ensuring that none of Iran’s nuclear activities could be diverted towards bomb-making.