Additional Iran sanctions would undermine US credibility

The US said Tuesday additional sanctions against Iran following the recent nuclear agreement with the Islamic Republic "would undermine" America's credibility. Although the Obama administration does not want to see the US Congress impose additional sanctions on Iran, both branches of government agree that it was that very pressure that brought the Iranians to the negotiating table. "There may be some minor differences about tactics here, but our ultimate goal here is the same," said White House Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest, referring to a rollback of Iran's nuclear capabilities. "We've got a very important six months ahead of us here, and this diplomatic opportunity should not be complicated by additional sanctions legislation at this point," he added. Earnest explained that further sanctions "would undermine the cooperation that we have enjoyed with allies and partners all around the globe" but at the same time, the mere threat posed by US legislators is keeping Iran on its toes, he said. "We know, and the Iranians know, frankly, that there is strong support in the Senate for additional sanctions should Iran fail to pursue this diplomatic opportunity," he stressed. Obama and his team have made several calls over the past few days to members of Congress in a bid to reaffirm the importance of their role while also insisting that no more sanctions on Iran are necessary. "We're not sanctioning just for the sake of sanctions, and we're not sanctioning the Iranians specifically to punish them," said Earnest. "We have these sanctions in place to pressure Iran to pursue -- to consider and pursue a diplomatic option. That diplomatic opportunity has presented itself, and we should pursue it."