Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, speaks to members of the media outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013, following a meeting with President Barack Obama. The President met with chairmen, ranking members, as well as other members of the Senate Banking Committee, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senate Armed Services Committees, and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence regarding Iran. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has personally appealed to senators to hold off on seeking additional sanctions on Iran while the U.S. and world powers negotiate a nuclear deal with Tehran.
Republican Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, who attended the White House meeting, says Obama asked lawmakers to pause for “a period of time.” Corker did not specify how long the president asked lawmakers to wait.
Corker says some lawmakers want to be able to at least announce new sanctions proposals in the coming days. But he says there will not be any sanctions amendments added before Thanksgiving to the annual defense bill, which could be the main vehicle for new imposing economic penalties.
Obama convened the meeting one day before the U.S. and five other world powers resume talks with Iran.
