Obama declines to put pen to Iran bill

Approves sanctions but says legislation is unnecessary

WASHINGTON // Barack Obama allowed US sanctions against Iran to be renewed yesterday, but in a surprise move declined to actually sign the legislation that brings the sanctions into force.

“The extension of the Iran sanctions act is becoming law without the president’s signature,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.

The president, who had previously been expected to sign the measure, symbolically missed a midnight deadline to put his name on the legislation, which he has called unnecessary.

Despite the lack of Mr Obama’s signature, the 10- year sanctions renewal will automatically become law.

Under the Iran nuclear deal signed in July last year, world powers agreed to lift international sanctions in exchange for curbs on Iran’s nuclear programme.

Mr Obama has said that passage of the US sanctions renewal will make no difference to the agreement because the White House will continue to suspend all sanctions linked to Iran’s nuclear programme.

The language in the nuclear deal makes it unclear whether renewing the sanctions – and keeping the nuclear ones suspended – amounts to a breach. “This administration has made clear that an extension of the Iran sanctions act, while unnecessary, is entirely consistent with our commitments in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action,” Mr Earnest said, referring to the nuclear deal by its formal name.

On Tuesday, Iranian president Hassan Rouhani ordered his country’s scientists to start work on nuclear-powered ships in response to the expected renewal of sanctions, criticising the US move as a breach of the nuclear accord.

International analysts said the announcement was probably a bluff, since it would be an extremely costly effort for little strategic gain.

US secretary of state John Kerry said yesterday that continued implementation of the Iran nuclear deal remained “a top strategic objective” for the United States.

He echoed the White House’s assertion that the legislation was unnecessary, stating that with or without the renewed sanctions, the US would still be able to address any Iranian breach of the nuclear deal.