Senate split on new Iran sanctions

The Senate remains divided on whether to slap an immediate new round of sanctions on Iran — and potentially shatter fragile diplomatic negotiations between the U.S. and the Islamic Republic.

The Obama administration will make the case Wednesday afternoon that the Senate needs to continue to stave off attempts to pass an additional round of sanctions. Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry and other top administration officials are scheduled to sit down with members of the Senate Banking Committee — and then Senate Democratic leaders — to brief them on the progress made with Iran in Geneva last week.

Wendy Sherman, a senior State Department official who is leading the U.S. delegation in the negotiations with Iran, and David Cohen — the Treasury Department’s point person on the Iranian sanctions — will be part of those briefings, said a source familiar with the situation.

(Also on POLITICO: Bipartisan House group wants Iran sanctions)

Kerry and other Western leaders were unable to finalize an agreement on easing of some sanctions in return for scaling back Iran’s nuclear program, though Kerry still hopes to strike such a deal. That diplomatic limbo could make it difficult to move a defense authorization bill by Thanksgiving as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) hopes to do, given administration fears that Republicans will offer a slew of amendments on Iran that could make Kerry’s job more difficult.

Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) said his panel will not draft new economic penalties toward Iran until the Senate has fully digested that briefing. Even then, Johnson said he will defer to his leadership and the White House to give him the green light.

“I’m waiting for the president and the leader to discuss what they want to do next,” Johnson said in a brief interview Tuesday evening.

Two members of Democratic leadership, Sens. Patty Murray of Washington and Chuck Schumer of New York, both said they remain undecided on pursuing new sanctions and will continue to talk to top administration brass.

“I’ve had long conversations with various administration people,” Schumer told reporters. “I will talk to you all later about this.”

The Banking Committee’s top Republican, Mike Crapo of Idaho, said he has long wanted to pursue a more stern policy on Iran, but will keep an open mind Wednesday.

“I have been in that position so far and that remains my position. However, I’m willing to let Secretary Kerry and Secretary Lew make their case,” Crapo said.

Not everyone is so patient. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), an Iran hawk, says Republicans want to move ahead with a new round of sanctions now, despite the White House objections.

“On our side, there’s an overwhelming belief that a third round of sanctions is necessary. Democrats are probably split on that,” Graham said. “I understand what [the White House is] telling us about destroying a chance for a peaceful outcome here by new sanctions. But I really think if the sanctions were crafted in the right way, where if the Iranians did things we didn’t want them to do, that would be more helpful than harmful.”

Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) strongly disagreed.

“We ought see what these negotiations produce. That’s what I think ought to do consider taking action,” Levin said. He noted that Geneva-based P5+1 — the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany — talks with Iran are still in the earliest phases and the Obama administration should be given more time to move forward. “I think we ought to not interfere with the negotiations.”

It’s the second time in two weeks that the administration has sent its top guns to brief senators on Iran, including a visit from Biden on Halloween.