03 December,2016 08:26 AM IST | | Agencies
Iran yesterday said that Congress’s decision to renew US sanctions for 10 years
Tehran: Iran yesterday said that Congress's decision to renew US sanctions for 10 years was a violation of last year's nuclear agreement and promised an "appropriate" response.
"As repeatedly stated by high-ranking Iranian officials, the recent Bill passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate to renew sanctions against Iran is against the (nuclear deal)," foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said.The Iran Sanctions Act passed the Senate 99-0 on Thursday, after easily clearing the House of Representatives last month.President Barack Obama is expected to sign the measure, a White House official said, adding that the administration does not believe the extension violates the nuclear deal.
The legislation does not directly address the nuclear pact. But some say the restrictions in the bill go against the spirit of the agreement, under which Tehran curbed its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief from the United States and other nations.