New anti-Iranian sanctions are likely to undermine any Iranian nuclear deal and may potentially isolate Washington instead of Tehran, believes US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power.MOSCOW, January 12 (Sputnik) If the US Congress pushes towardmore sanctions againstIran, it will inevitably ruin any prospect ofthe Iranian nuclear deal, isolating Washington instead, believes Samantha Power, the US Ambassador tothe United Nations."If we pull the trigger onnew nuclear-related sanctions now, we will go fromisolating Iran topotentially isolating ourselves," Samantha Power said inher address asquoted byReuters.
She called uponUS Republicans toestablish collaborative relationship withObama's Democratic camp inorder find common grounds onsuch crucial issues asIran, Cuba and counter-terrorism.
"Some members ofCongress believe that the time has come toratchet upsanctions onIran. They argue that this is the most effective way toachieve the goal ofgetting Iran togive upits nuclear program," the US envoy said."We inthe administration believe that, atthis time, increasing sanctions would dramatically undermine our efforts toreach this shared goal," she added.
Although Tehran and Washington still cannot reach an agreement onthe Iranian controversial uranium enrichment program, the US Ambassador tothe UN deems that the further negotiations may prove efficient.
"We assess that we still have a credible chance ofreaching the agreement we want," Samantha Power stated duringher speech, adding that if the Obama administration decided that Washington failed toachieve its goals, it would join Congress and support new anti-Iran sanctions. However, the White House has not "reached that point yet," according toPower.
It should be noted that US Secretary ofState John Kerry will meet withJavad Zarif, his Iranian counterpart onWednesday inGeneva, inorder torevive the talks, the Wall Street Journal notes."We will see how useful it will turn out. We are constantly gauging the benefits," Mr. Zarif told reporters inTehran onSunday, adding that both sides should increase their efforts tocome toagreement.
Tehran has been a target ofsanctions imposed bythe United States, the UN Security Council, aswell asthe European Union, and several other countries overthe allegations that Iran is trying toproduce nuclear weapons underthe guise ofa civilian program. Iranian government has repeatedly denied such allegations, stating that Tehrans nuclear activities are aimed purely atmeeting the countrys growing energy needs.
The P5+1 group ofsix world powers comprising Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China and Germany joined diplomatic efforts back in2006 inan attempt toreach a deal withthe Tehran authorities assuring the peaceful nature ofthe Iranian nuclear program. Since then, the group has held several meetings withIran, butthe sides failed toreach a compromise.
The latest roundof talks betweenIran and the P5+1 group held inNovember inVienna did not produce a comprehensive deal onIran's nuclear program and the sides agreed tocontinue the discussions untilJuly 2015.
By Sputnik News
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