Some Democrats Growing Impatient Over Delays on Iran Sanctions

Congress should as soon as possible consider a bill that slaps sanctions on Iran over its illicit non-nuclear activities, Democratic lawmakers who supported the 2015 Iran nuclear deal told THE WEEKLY STANDARD.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Corker said during a hearing last week that the bill had hit some delays, citing “concerns about how the European Union might react and [Iranian] elections that are coming up." A Corker aide specified to TWS on Thursday that the bill was being held up by a Democratic objection.

Maryland senator Ben Cardin, the committee's top Democrat, denied that the measure had been delayed over concerns about Iran's May presidential election. He said he was working to get more support for the bill and had "been meeting with a lot of different groups." Asked whether he knew of any Democratic objections, Cardin said, "You have to ask the Democrats. … I don't know."

Multiple Democratic co-sponsors of the measure advocated for advancing the legislation—and fast.

"I understand some members have concerns about Iran's domestic politics and I think we have to be mindful of the potential impact, but bluntly, I'd like to see us move forward," said Delaware senator Chris Coons, who sits on the foreign relations panel.