Kerry: New Iran sanctions may be dangerous

Former Secretary of State John Kerry says it would be dangerous to impose new sanctions on Iran so soon after the negotiation of an international nuclear deal. 

Speaking at a San Francisco fundraiser, Kerry argued that new sanctions could be seen as a provocation by Iran.

“If we become super provocative in ways that show the Iranian people there has been no advantage to this, that there is no gain, and our bellicosity is pushing them into a corner, that’s dangerous and that could bring a very different result,” said Kerry, who led U.S. negotiations on the deal under former President Obama.

The Associated Press reported on his remarks. 

{mosads}Kerry’s comments come as the Senate prepares to vote this week on the Iran Destabilizing Activities Act, which focuses on the country’s ballistic missile program, human rights violations and terrorism support.

The Iran nuclear deal relaxed international sanctions on Iran in exchange for commitments from Tehran meant to prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.

Kerry also said he hopes President Trump listens to top advisers such as national security adviser H.R. McMaster and Defense Secretary James Mattis.

“My hope is that they would in fact not just be the adults in the room but that they would be listened to,” he said of Mattis and McMaster.