Washington, April 21: In line with Washington’s policy of escalating pressure on Tehran over its nuclear plan, the US Congress is set to pass a tougher sanctions bill on Iran.
Democratic House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Tuesday that he was “hopeful” lawmakers would send the legislation to President Barack Obama “in a matter of weeks.”
The US Senate and House of Representatives during the past years had already passed bills aimed at forcing Iran into giving up its civilian nuclear program.
They are now to forge and pass a compromise legislation mostly aimed at blocking refined petroleum imports to Iran.
However, analysts believe that US sanctions have failed to meet their objectives in the past and are unlikely to stop the Iranian nuclear program now.
The United States, Israel, and some of their allies accuse Tehran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear program.
Yet, as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran says it has the right to develop and acquire nuclear technology meant for peaceful purposes.
In addition, the IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities and has found no evidence showing that Iran’s civilian nuclear program has been diverted to nuclear weapons production.
——-Agencies