US Senate Overwhelmingly Backs Stronger Sanctions Against Russia, Iran

The Senate passed the measure today by a vote of 98-2. Regardless, GOP senators believe Trump would sign it, with Sen.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Thursday that the Trump administration is "committed to existing sanctions against Russia" but is "still reviewing the new Russian Federation sanctions amendment".

Corker told reporters that "I only have talked a little bit with" Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who testified twice this week that the White House would prefer "flexibility" to adjust Russian Federation sanctions as needed.

The bill penalizes Moscow for interfering in the 2016 election by imposing sanctions on key sectors of Russia's economy, including mining, metals, shipping and railways.

Under President Obama, top White House officials warned that sanctions would be risky to the legitimacy of the nuclear deal signed with Iran.

Russian President Putin shakes hands with Iranian President Rouhani during joint news conference following their meeting at Kremlin in MoscowThomson ReutersWASHINGTON (AP) - The Republican-led Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday to approve sweeping sanctions legislation targeting Iran and Russia.

The New York Times noted that, had the deal not passed, it would have been a "major embarrassment" for Trump just weeks after he traveled to Saudi Arabia and unveiled the agreement with flare.

The bill would also impose sanctions on Iran with regard to its ballistic missile activities that are not linked to the nuclear agreement the Arab country signed with the USA and other countries. "It is unacceptable for Russian Federation to interfere in our elections here in the United States, or anywhere around the world".

"The additional Iran and Russian Federation sanctions that passed today give the administration the necessary tools to deter threats from these regimes", said Sen. The measure also would apply terrorism sanctions to the country's Revolutionary Guards and enforce an arms embargo.

The bill provides for the consolidation on the legislative level of the sanctions imposed by Executive orders of Barack Obama.

Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, the chairman of the Banking Committee, said the legislation expands the Ukraine-related sanctions to ban Western companies from being involved in Russian energy exploration projects in the Arctic and elsewhere. Rand Paul and Sen.

"It's particularly significant that a bipartisan coalition is seeking to reestablish Congress, not the president, as the final arbiter of sanctions relief", said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat.