Dodd still pushing Iran sanctions bill
By VICTORIA MCGRANE
Updated 12:30 PM PDT, Tue, Oct 6, 2009
Senate Banking Chairman Chris Dodd is forging ahead with an Iran sanctions bill, despite resistance from the White House, which wants more time to engage with the Iranian regime over its nuclear program.
“I’ve never met an administration yet that gives you a ringing endorsement on sanctions,” Dodd told reporters. “I’ve been here long enough to know – Democrats, Republicans – they’d prefer we didn’t exist, you know, when it comes to this stuff.”
The Obama administration would like a greater international coalition to pursue sanctions, rather than having the United States pursuing the penalties unilaterally.
Dodd's proposal would freeze Iranian financial assets and crack down on refined petroleum exports to Iran.
Dodd said he plans for the Banking Committee will mark up his sanctions legislation by the last week in October. He said he expects to have Republican support.
“Hopefully in the meantime things go very, very well [with ongoing nuclear negotiatons], but I think it’s very important that the Iranian government understand how serious we are here about this,” Dodd said.
Copyright Politico
First Published: Oct 6, 2009 11:30 AM PDT
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