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Congress takes first step on Iran sanctions

The Senate Banking Committee voted 18-4 in favor of repercussions if talks drag on.
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 14: (R-L) U.S. Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) speaks as Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), committee ranking member Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) and committee chairman Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) listen during a confirmation hearing for Nominee for the Federal Reserve Board Chairman Janet Yellen (3rd L) before Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee November 14, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Yellen will be the first woman to head the Federal Reserve if confirmed by the Senate and will

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.

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