US, Allies May Need to Enforce UN Sanctions on Iran, Senator Says
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said late Sept. 3 that while he welcomes the recent decision by France, Germany and the U.K. to initiate snapback U.N. sanctions on Iran over its nuclear weapons program (see 2508280033), he believes the U.S. will need to work with the trio to ensure adherence to the sanctions.
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“We need to make sure that the world understands that these sanctions are real and that we, as part of the West, are going to enforce them,” Kennedy said during a Senate floor speech.
Kennedy said that while the U.N. should set up a committee to enforce the sanctions, he expects China and Russia will block such a move. Beijing has already criticized the sanctions, saying they will hurt diplomacy with Iran (see 2508290041).
The sanctions could crimp several Iranian economic sectors, including banking, oil and shipping, Kennedy said.
“Unfortunately, I wish we didn’t have to do it because I feel for the Iranian people,” he added. “I don’t feel any sympathy for the ayatollah. We’re just going to have to choke 'em to death economically.”