Amid the ongoing US-Iranian détente, the Obama administration has urged Congress to halt any new sanctions on the Iranian government.
“So while we understand that Congress may consider new sanctions, we think this is a time for a pause, as we asked for in the past, to see if negotiations can gain traction,” said State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki Friday.
She said that the administration’s position was conveyed to US congressmen Thursday during a meeting at the White House.
The request comes as the P5+1 group of world powers, which includes the US, are engaged with Iran in delicate negotiations over its nuclear program. The next round of talks is scheduled for November 7. Psaki added, “We think that the flexibility right now would be helpful in putting a pause on sanctions to see if this process will work out, moving forward.”
Even as the administration calls for a hiatus on new sanctions, it remains open to the possibility of increasing the sanctions regime should there be a lack of progress in negotiations.
“There's always time for sanctions in the future as needed, but this is an ask we're making to Congress now,” remarked Psaki.
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