A U.S. Senate committee approved a broad range of sanctions against Iran.
The bill, initiated by the late U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) and passed overwhelmingly last year by the U.S. House of Representatives, was approved Wednesday by the Senate Finance Committee. That brings the bill a step closer to being signed into law.
The bill would toughen existing sanctions by, among other strategies, targeting third parties and nations that deal with Iran’s energy sector and severely restricting the president’s ability to waive such sanctions.
The bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration, although when is not certain. President Bush opposes some of its provisions, particularly those restricting presidential waiver power.
The bill has the strong support of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
