US Senate slaps sanctions on Iran, may add sanctions for Russia

WASHINGTON, Jun 8 (PRIME) -- The U.S. Senate on Wednesday supported in a 92-7 vote a bill that punishes Iran for its ballistic missile test in violation of a U.N. Security Council resolution, and leaders of both Senate factions said they may add sanctions against Russia to the bill later.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, “We'll anticipate that amendments addressing Russia sanctions are likely to be offered,” adding that the chairmen of the Senate Foreign Relations and Banking committees have been discussing enacting tougher sanctions on Russia with their ranking members as well.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that the U.S. Senate Democrats will approve the Iran sanctions bill in a final vote only if the provision sanctioning Moscow for alleged meddling in the 2016 election is included in the measure.

“It will be very difficult to gather Democratic support for a final passage of this bill until we deal with Russia sanctions…I have faith that the Majority Leader and I...will be able to agree on a way forward that allows for a final vote on Iran sanctions alongside a strong and effective package on Russia sanctions,” he said.

In 2014, relations between Russia and the West deteriorated to their worse since the Cold War due to a military conflict in Ukraine. The West introduced sanctions against some Russian individuals and firms and further against the energy and banking sectors. In response, Russia prohibited food imports from some countries, including the U.S., the E.U., Canada, Australia, and Norway.

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