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By Luke Johnson, RFE/RL

WASHINGTON -- Should U.S. President Barack Obama and Western powers reach a nuclear deal with Iran, they could face a new hurdle: a Republican Congress.

Republicans are eyeing various Iran-related measures, including legislation to impose fresh sanctions should talks fail and to require congressional review of any deal.

The Obama administration opposes new sanctions during the negotiating period and Iran has said that they could pull out of talks should Congress pass new sanctions.

Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill on January 7, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker said Iran was "very much front-burner" for the new Congress.

"Surely you would think Congress would want to weigh in on a nuclear negotiation," Corker, a Republican from Tennessee, said.

But with senior U.S. officials slated to meet with Iranian officials next week in Geneva, the White House wants Congress to give its negotiators room to maneuver.

"We have long believed that Congress should not consider any new sanctions while negotiations are under way, in order to give our negotiators the time and space they need to fully test the current diplomatic opportunity," a senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told RFE/RL.

"New sanctions threaten the diplomatic process currently under way."

Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia said European diplomats involved in the negotiations have also expressed concern about potential new sanctions in a recent meeting.

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New Republican Majority Wants A Say On Obama's Iran Talks