More than half of U.S. senators support a bill that seeks imposition of new sanctions on Iran if it breaks the agreement to curb its nuclear program, aides said on Thursday.
The White House threatened to veto the legislation while Iran declared November’s nuclear deal struck in Geneva between the two states as dead if the U.S. Congress imposes new sanctions.
The “Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act” is now supported by at least 54 senators in the 100-member chamber, according to a congressional record.
It remains uncertain whether the bill will be introduced in the Senate or if its supporters can win the two-thirds majority to overcome a veto by President Barack Obama.
A senior Senate Democratic aide said there were no plans yet for advancing the bill to the Senate floor, despite the growing list of co-sponsors.
The bill would also place sanctions on Iran if it does not agree to a comprehensive deal later this year or next. The United States and five other world powers agreed to a six-month interim deal with Iran in Geneva in November, that can be extended to a year.
Under last year’s interim agreement, Iran will be limiting enrichment of uranium in exchange for access to billions of dollars worth of funds that had been cut off by sanctions.
