Obama urges Congress to nix Iran sanctions, threatens veto

US President Barack Obama on Friday urged Congress not to impose new sanctions on Iran over its disputed nuclear program, threatening to veto any such legislation that lands on his desk.

“Congress needs to show patience,” Obama told a joint news conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron, adding that new sanctions would “jeopardize the possibility of… providing a diplomatic solution to one of the most difficult and long-lasting national security problems that we’ve faced in a very long time.”

“Congress should be aware that if this diplomatic solution fails, then the risks and likelihood that this ends up being at some point a military confrontation is heightened. And Congress will have to own that as well,” Obama was quoted by Reuters as saying.

Cameron also spoke out against calls for further sanctions on Iran, saying negotiations needed “space” to succeed.

“We remain absolutely committed to ensuring that Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon,” Cameron said.

“The best way to achieve that now is to create the space for negotiations to succeed. We should not impose further sanctions now.”

The US, UK, Russia, China, France and Germany are part of the P5+1 diplomatic council meant to negotiate a comprehensive solution to Iran’s nuclear program.

The Iranians, who insist they are enriching uranium to develop a peaceful, civilian nuclear program, will continue discussions throughout 2015 in an effort to reach an accord by the July 1 deadline.

Jerusalem has expressed a great deal of doubt over Iran’s intentions and actively maintains the position that Tehran is seeking a nuclear weapon.