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Republican senators vowed Sunday to pursue additional sanctions against Iran, brushing off unusually blunt and dire warnings from President Obama that any more penalties for Tehran would threaten to scuttle nuclear talks and possibly lead to war.

Sen. Ron Johnson, Wisconsin Republican and chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said he had no faith in Mr. Obamas ability to negotiate a deal that would stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

These negotiations were lost right from the get-go when we lessened sanctions and we basically allowed Iran to continue to enrich uranium, contrary to all the U.N. resolutions, Mr. Johnson said on Fox News Sunday.

SEE ALSO: Obamas grim warning to Congress: New Iran sanctions could lead to war

I do not see a good deal coming out of this administration, and a bad deal is worse than no deal at all. I think imposing additional sanctions is the only way to bring Iran to the negotiating table in good faith, the Wisconsin Republican said.

Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, a Maryland Democrat who appeared on the same show as Mr. Johnson, agreed that Congress has to be ready to impose additional penalties if Iran continues to pursue nuclear arms.

The question is when do we do it, and thats the issue and discussions taking place on Capitol Hill, said Mr. Cardin, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, the ranking member on the committee, is the leading Democratic proponent of passing more sanctions against Iran.

Speaking alongside British Prime Minister David Cameron last week, Mr. Obama told Congress to hold your fire and allow his diplomats to continue to negotiate with Iran.

Mr. Obama and Mr. Cameron said more sanctions would splinter the international community, which at this point remains united against Irans pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Original post:
Republican senators vow more Iran sanctions despite Obama warnings