U.S. officials are increasingly relying on economic sanctions as a tool of foreign policy, but the effectiveness of sanctions in achieving policy objectives is questionable, according to Bryan Early, political science professor at University at Albany.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a measure Thursday that would give lawmakers a framework to review the Obama administration's sanctions-related nuclear agreement with Iran.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday unanimously passed amended legislation that would grant Congress greater control over a potential nuclear accord to lift Iran sanctions.
Iran and six nations outlined a possible permanent accord Thursday that would impose long-term limits on the Islamic republic's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of nearly all Western and U.N. sanctions.
White House officials voiced opposition Wednesday to a Senate bill that would impose additional sanctions against Iran should negotiations to place limits on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program fail.
U.S. lawmakers will likely move to strengthen restrictions on correspondent accounts in the reconciled version of an Iran sanctions bill expected to pass the Senate by June, say congressional sources.
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