Obama urges senators to delay new sanctions on Iran

Obama stressed to the senators that without the initial step, Iran will continue to advance its nuclear programme by increasing its enrichment capacity, growing its stockpile of enriched uranium, installing advanced centrifuges and making progress on the plutonium track at the Arak reactor, according to Carney.


"With this current P5Ư proposal, we have the opportunity to halt the progress of the Iranian program, roll it back in key respects, while testing whether a comprehensive resolution can be achieved," Carney said.

Obama also told the senators the suggested sanctions relief will be "limited, temporary and reversible", dismissing reports about $40 to 50 billion in reduced sanctions for Iran as "inaccurate".