WASHINGTON (JTA) — The Senate approved legislation calling on the president to implement stiffer sanctions on Iran if it does not stop its nuclear program by late this year.
The bipartisan amendment — backed by Republican Sens. Jon Kyl (Ariz.) and John McCain (Ariz.), independent Sen. Joe Lieberman (Conn.) and Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) — was passed unanimously on Tuesday and attached to the defense authorization bill.
The bill urges President Obama to impose sanctions against the Central Bank of Iran if Tehran does not accept his offer of direct talks before the late September summit of the Group of 20 nations or does not halt its nuclear program 60 days after that.
