Washington – Schumer: If US Quits Deal, US Sanctions Still Will Hurt Iran

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    FILE -In this July 16, 2015 file photo, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. walks on Capitol Hill in Washington. President Barack Obama suffered a temporary setback in his all-out campaign to secure Democratic support for the Iran nuclear deal as Schumer announced his opposition to the international accord. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)Washington – The lone Democratic senator to publicly oppose President Barack Obama’s nuclear agreement with Iran said Tuesday that even if the U.S. backs away and other countries lift their sanctions, Iran still will feel “meaningful pressure” from the U.S. penalties.

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    The deal that the U.S. and other world powers negotiated with Iran would curb Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in relief from crippling sanctions.

    New York Sen. Chuck Schumer’s view sharply contrasts with European leaders who have told U.S. lawmakers that if Congress were to reject the deal, the international sanctions would unravel, undermining global pressure on Iran.

    Schumer also said that sanctions aimed at companies that do business with Iran could force U.S. allies and trade partners back to the negotiating table.

    “Let’s not forget, those secondary sanctions are very powerful,” Schumer told reporters in New York as he detailed a decision he first announced last week.

    He said these sanctions alert corporations, such as the French oil company Total, that if it deals with Iran, it cannot deal with the United States.

    “We have that powerful tool, and if used, I think that’s a better, better chance in a very difficult world than an agreement that is so totally flawed,” Schumer said.

    Schumer’s opposition was seen as a blow to the Obama administration, but since Schumer’s announcement, a handful of Senate Democrats and several House Democrats have announced their support.

    Schumer is a leading congressional ally of Israel, a major fundraiser and savvy strategist for his party, and represents a state that is home to more than a million-and-a-half Jews. He is in line to lead Senate Democrats after the 2016 elections.

    He was asked by reporters whether he intended to lobby colleagues to vote with him.

    “Certainly, I’m going to try to persuade my colleagues that my viewpoint is right, but anyone who thinks you can force somebody to vote with you in the Senate doesn’t understand the Senate,” he said. “This is a vote of conscience. It was a vote of conscience for me. It will be a vote of conscience for my colleagues.”


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    6 Comments
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    albroker
    albroker
    8 years ago

    like American sanctions are hurting the Russians.

    sndinc
    sndinc
    8 years ago

    finally schumer got off the fence what6 about gillibrand where is she?

    8 years ago

    Gillibrand already said she supports it,

    PaulinSaudi
    PaulinSaudi
    8 years ago

    Of course US sanctions will hurt Iran. What they will not do is keep the Iranians from getting a nuke. North Korea and Pakistan are both poorer that Iran and they both made nuclear weapons.

    Sanctions are fun, but they will not get the job done.