Senate votes unanimously to stiffen sanction on Iran's central bank

The Senate Thursday evening cleared an amendment that requires the imposition of harsh sanctions on the financial sector of Iran, including the Central Bank of Iran as a reprisal for that country's persistent nuclear program. 

Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), both original sponsors of the amendment, argued just prior to the vote that the sanctions could represent the final chance to avoid armed conflict.

 This amendment “makes it clear that central bank is central source of money for Iran’s nuclear program… and that needs to be addressed,” said Menendez.

“This is the maximum opportunity to have a peaceful diplomacy to stop Iran from gaining nuclear weapons,” added Kirk.

Earlier in the year Kirk, along with Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.), spearheaded an effort to push the White House to move to the collapse of the Central Bank of Iran as reprisal for that nation’s persistent nuclear efforts.

The Kirk-Schumer letter, signed by 92 senators, urged the White House “to impose crippling sanctions on Iran's financial system by cutting off the CBI."