Menendez: New Iran sanctions possible

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) said Sunday that Congress should consider new economic sanctions against Iran until a broader deal is struck on the country’s nuclear program.

“I think that the possibility of moving ahead with new sanctions, including wording it in such a way that if there is a deal that is acceptable that those sanctions could cease upon such a deal, is possible,” Menendez said on ABC’s “This Week.”

“At the same time, it’s also an incentive to the Iranians to know what’s coming if you don’t strike a deal,” he added. “So I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to move forward on a package that ultimately would send a very clear message where we intend to be if the Iranians don’t strike a deal and stop their nuclear weapons program.”

Talks collapsed over the weekend on a deal to suspend Iran’s uranium enrichment program.

Republicans and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are concerned that easing economic sanctions in exchange for Iran temporarily cutting back on its uranium enrichment is a “minor” concession and that the country would be back up and running in no time.

Secretary of State John Kerry has said the U.S. is in no hurry to strike a deal.