US Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on Thursday that sanctions targeting Iran have been incorporated into a pending bipartisan bill imposing additional sanctions on Russia.
Speaking to Punchbowl News, Thune said the inclusion had broad support because sanctions on Iran have long been part of US policy.
“I think everybody’s fine with it, because we would do it anyway,” Thune said, noting that sanctions against Iran have been a feature of US policy for roughly three decades.
He said Democratic lawmakers are reviewing the amendment as Republicans and Democrats work to reach an agreement on scheduling a Senate vote before Congress begins its recess.
“I’ve been having conversations with the Democrats and the folks on our side, and I think we’re honing in on it,” Thune said.
The move follows a call by US President Donald Trump on Sunday to include Iran in the bipartisan sanctions legislation, saying it would honour the wishes of its late author, Senator Lindsey Graham.
“Republicans should add Iran to the Russian Sanctions Bill,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding that the provision was “what Lindsey wanted to do.”