Republican senator wants to tie Iran to budget fight

Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) has introduced an amendment that would link the fight over Iran to the Republican budget being debated in the Senate.

{mosads}The Illinois Republican would reinstate sanctions rolled back by the Obama administration and add additional sanctions if Iran violates either the short-term agreement currently in place or any long-term deal reached on its nuclear program. He is also behind a separate but similar bill.

Kirk’s effort is largely symbolic. The amendment, which includes a “deficit-neutral reserve fund” is nonbinding. It does, however, get senators on the record on his Iran legislation.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) suggested Tuesday that if a deal on Iran’s nuclear program isn’t reached, senators will take up Kirk’s legislation that would increase sanctions.

Negotiators are currently facing an end-of-the-month deadline to reach a framework agreement for a long-term nuclear deal, with a final deadline at the end of June.