Senators eye new sanctions against Iran – The Hill

Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey GrahamTrumps feud with the press in the spotlight Senators eye new sanctions against Iran Republicans play clean up on Trump's foreign policy MORE (R-S.C.) revealed plansSundayto introduce legislation that would imposefurther economic sanctionson Iran,according to a Reuters report.

Graham, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, mentioned the plans for increased measures during a panel discussion at the 2017 Munich Security Conference.

"I think it is now time for the Congress to take Iran on directly in terms of what theyve done outside the nuclear program," Graham said.

Graham said he and other senators would be introducing a measure to hold Iran accountable for its actions, Reuters reported.

Tehran violated the U.N. Security Council resolutions by testing ballistic missiles earlier this month.

Sen. Chris MurphyChris MurphySenators eye new sanctions against Iran For Trump and Russia, the fall of Michael Flynn is only the beginning Overnight Finance: Trump's Labor pick withdraws | Ryan tries to save tax plan | Trump pushes tax reform with retailers MORE (D-Conn.), who participated in the same conference panel as Graham, said there will need to be aconversation about what the proportional response is" to Iran's missile test.

"I don't necessarily think there's going to be partisan division over whether or not we have the ability as a Congress to speak on issues outside of the nuclear agreement," Murphy said.

Murphy, who serves on theSenate Foreign Relations Committee,also said the U.S. will have to decide its level of involvement in Iran.

"We have to make a decision whether we are going to get involved in the emerging proxy war in a bigger way than we are today, between Iran and Saudi [Arabia]," he said.

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalated after Trump sanctioned dozens of Iranian individuals and companies in early February, according to aWall Street Journal report.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif, who also attended the Munich Security Conference, said Iran doesnt respond well to coercion and threats.

We dont respond well to coercion. We dont respond well to sanctions, but we respond very well to mutual respect. We respond very well to arrangements to reach mutually acceptable scenarios, Zarif saidon Sunday, according to anAP report.

Graham blasted Iran, calling it a bad actor that's sending mixed messages.

"To Iran, I say, if you want us to treat you differently then stop building missiles, test-firing them in defiance of U.N. resolution and writing 'Death to Israel' on the missile. That's a mixed message," Graham said.

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Senators eye new sanctions against Iran - The Hill

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