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US ex-politician says New Iran sanctions would be ‘terrible mistake’

US ex-politician says New Iran sanctions would be 'terrible mistake'

Former US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has criticized a move by a number of US Congressmen to push for new sanctions against Iran, calling the potential burden of any new sanctions against the Iran “a terrible mistake.”

“Imposing new sanctions right now is a terrible mistake and would be a strategic error,” Gates said in an interview with US Public Broadcasting Service NewsHour aired on Tuesdya, reported Press TV.

The American ex-defense secretary was referring to a draft bill, introduced on December 18, 2013, that would impose further sanctions on Iran, targeting the country’s energy, shipping and mining sectors.

The bill that enjoys the support of 59 senators, would violate the terms of an agreement reached on November 24, 2013 between Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. The two sides have also agreed on January 20 as the date to start implementing the deal.

The draft bill and the subsequent efforts by US Congress members have faced strong opposition from the White House. US President Barack Obama has said he would veto the bill if it were voted on in the Congress.

Gates, who first served as the United States’ secretary of defense under former President George W. Bush, further said in the interview that any new sanctions against Iran should be tied to the failure of the nuclear negotiations.

He added that the US had “no choice but to sit down at the [negotiating] table with the Iranians.”

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