US President Barack Obama | Fri 30 Apr 2010 - PressTV |
After a congressional survey identified Iran's foreign fuel suppliers, the White House says it will exempt the firms from sanctions if they agree to cooperate.
The Washington Times reported Thursday that US President Barack Obama is pressing Congress to waive sanctions on the companies that are based in “cooperating countries,” which are proven to be in full compliance with the administration's Iran strategy.
A congressional source told The Washington Times that Obama had personally asked the House to postpone the sanctions bill until after the current work period.
The efforts, which will significantly soften Washington's push for new sanctions against Iran, are not sitting well with some members of Congress.
Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said the exemption is clearly aimed at gaining the support of Russia and China, both of which have strong trade relations with Iran and are likely to use their power of veto to block a fourth round of sanctions against Tehran at the UN Security Council.
"The security of our nation and our allies cannot afford... to produce a bill that is so full of holes," Fox News quoted Ros-Lehtinen as saying.
"It is time for Congress to fill the vacuum created by executive branch inaction ... and enact crippling, mandatory sanctions that address the rapidly growing threat posed by Iran," he added.
