Sen. Rand Paul Opposes New Sanctions on Iran

Wants to stick with negotiations

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said this week that he is against passing a new round of sanctions on Iran while talks on a final nuclear deal are ongoing.

A battle has been ongoing in the Senate over whether to move forward with an Iran sanctions bill championed by Sens. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL). The bill attracted dozens of cosponsors — including from a handful of Democrats — when it was introduced last month. But momentum slowed in the face of opposition from the White House, senior Senate Democrats, various security experts and grassroots activists who argue the measure would derail negotiations with Iran and could lead to war.

Only two GOP senators — including Paul — stood on the sidelines as the rest of their Republican colleagues voiced support for the bill. But the Kentucky Republican — in little noticed comments after President Obama's State of the Union address on Tuesday — broke his silence, bucking his caucus in opposing the bill.