The US Congress plans a new package of sanctions against Iran this week. An observer in Washington, Josh Rogin, believes that a new bill will be presented on Tuesday morning and voted for on Wednesday. The Senate could pass it on Thursday or Friday. The bill is developed by the bank committee of the Senate and the international committee of the House of Representatives, RIA Novosti reports.
The bill will affect everyone helping Iran with equipment and technologies used for censorship and suppression of people. This includes rubber bullets, tear gas and devices muting radio and TV signals. The bill is intended to increase diplomatic and economic pressure on Iran.
Harry Reid (Democrat) hopes that the bill will come into force in the near future. US Pentagon Chief Leon Panetta approved the bill.
The spokeswoman for the US State Department, Victoria Nuland, said that the secretary of state and Assistant to the President on National Security Affairs Tom Donilon had discussed the problem of Iran in Israel. She added that the US still expects a meeting between the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton with the Secretary of the Supreme Council of National Security of Iran Said Jalili.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes that the sanctions have not halted the Iranian nuclear program.
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said that the country has the right to uranium enrichment. He added that Iran does not want to cause problems by blocking the Strait of Hormuz (used for transporting 40% of the world's oil through the Gulf), but would have to do it if its sovereignty and national interests are threatened.
