The US Senate on Jan. 29 took the first step toward passing Iran sanctions legislation that the White House and Iran have repeatedly warned could derail nuclear negotiations.
The Senate Banking Committee voted 18-4 in favor of legislation from Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., that would gradually impose sanctions on Iran if no deal is reached by July 6. Lawmakers on the committee, however, defeated several amendments from hawkish Republicans that would have endangered Democratic support for the bill.