Iran: US Congress 'unanimous' sanctions extension violates nuclear deal

The United States Senate has voted unanimously to approve a 10-year extension to the president's authority to impose sanctions on Iran.

The chamber followed the House of Representatives in passing the Iran Sanctions Act by 99-0 votes with outgoing leader Barack Obama set to sign the legislation, White House officials said.

The US congress views the extension as a largely symbolic move to enforce the historic nuclear pact, and would "make clear that there will be immediate consequences should Iran break the terms of the agreement, including the re-imposition of sanctions," they said.

However Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the vote was a "violation" of last year's deal in which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

"The extension of sanctions by the US Congress is a violation of the deal," ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said in a statement. "We will report it to Iran's committee, assigned for monitoring the implementation of the deal."

Senate Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Tim Kaine, who both backed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran, said that while the president is currently waiving some sanctions as part of the agreement, "sanctions legislation must remain in place to allow an immediate 'snap-back' should Iran violate the JCPOA".

The bill includes penalties against Iran's banking sector, as well as its energy and defence industries.

Last month Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that the Islamic republic would "react against" the new sanctions extension if it becomes law.

Last month Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that the Islamic republic would "react against" the new sanctions extension if it becomes law.

US President-elect Donald Trump heavily criticised the nuclear accord as he campaigned for the White House over the past year - calling it the "stupidest deal of all time". Several fellow Republicans remain vehemently opposed to the nuclear deal and have called for it to be scrapped.

While the Obama administration said the vote would not change anything, the extension of the sanctions authorisation will give Trump opportunity to tear up the accord if he wishes.

However since his election he has suggested that he would try to renegotiate the deal - seen as Obama's signature foreign policy achievement - not destroy it.

Extending the sanctions "ensures President-elect Trump and his administration have the tools necessary to push back against the regime's hostile actions," said Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Corker, who is one of the Trump's possible picks for secretary of state.