Trump backs wider Russia sanctions bill

Washington, July 14 (IANS) President Donald Trump on Tuesday said legislation championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham imposing tougher sanctions on Russia could be expanded to include Iran and Hezbollah, although he added that proposals affecting countries such as India and China had not been discussed.

Speaking during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at the White House, Trump said lawmakers were considering broadening the sanctions package as a tribute to Graham, one of Congress’ strongest advocates of tougher measures against Moscow.

“I know that Lindsey wanted it very badly,” Trump said when asked whether he would sign the legislation.

“I think they may be adding Iran to it. They’re going to add Iran, which is a very big thing. They may add Hezbollah to it.”

Trump said the proposal remained under discussion but indicated there was strong support for moving ahead.

“We’re looking at that, but they’re seriously thinking, and this is in honour of Lindsey, and this was his thing. He wanted this more than any other thing.”

“There’s a good chance that it gets done.”

Asked specifically whether the legislation would include secondary sanctions on countries including India and China, Trump said no decision had been made.

“If that was the secondary sanctions on China, India… we’ll have to look. That hasn’t been discussed,” he said.

The comments came during a wide-ranging exchange on Iraq, Iran and the Middle East, where Trump again argued that Tehran’s regional influence had been significantly weakened.

“I think the Middle East is coming together,” he said.

“We’re getting rid of the bully of the Middle East. Iran was the bully of the Middle East. They bullied Iraq. They bullied every country.”

“There’s no fear anymore because their military capability has been knocked to hell.”

Trump also defended his administration’s earlier decision to ease pressure on Iran in an effort to reach an agreement.

“I gave them a chance. I wanted to give them a chance at making a deal,” he said.

“We had a deal two days ago. It was done and then all of a sudden they couldn’t do it. They didn’t like something about the deal. They couldn’t do it, and they shot first, and that was a big mistake.”

Referring to Iran’s military capabilities, Trump added: “What we’ve done to Iran is we’ve taken away almost all of their military capability.”

The legislation Trump referred to was closely associated with Graham, a leading Republican voice on foreign policy who had long advocated stronger sanctions against Russia and its partners. The proposal seeks to increase economic pressure on Moscow through additional sanctions and other punitive measures.

–IANS

lkj/dan