Obama expected to sign Iran Sanctions Act into law
Iran Press TV
Fri Dec 2, 2016 8:54PM
US President Barack Obama is likely to sign legislation, which renews sanctions against Iran for 10 years, into law, the White House says.
"We believe the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) extension is not necessary, but we also believe it won't interfere with the Iran deal," deputy White House press secretary Eric Schultz said on Friday. "I would expect the president to sign this piece of legislation."
In a 99-to-0 vote on Thursday, the US Senate passed the ISA, sending the measure to the White House for Obama to sign into law.
Last month, the House of Representatives voted 419 to 1 to reauthorize the ISA, which will expire on Dec. 31 without an extension.
The measure was first introduced in 1996 to punish investments in Iran's energy industry based on accusations that Tehran was pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.
Schultz also said on Friday that "as long as Iran adheres to is commitments under the Iran deal, [the US] is going to as well."
The deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was reached between Iran and the P5+1 - the US, Britain, Russia, China, France and Germany - in June last year.
Under the deal, Tehran agreed to limit some aspects of its nuclear program in exchange for removal of all the nuclear-related sanctions.
On Thursday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said that the Obama administration retained "substantial authority to impose sanctions against Iran," adding, "we'll take a look at the bill" that has been passed.
Iran says that it has made necessary preparations and is ready to respond if the US violates the deal.
"We have already made the necessary anticipations and are thoroughly prepared to show a reaction," Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), told IRIB on Friday.
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