A group of US lawmakers have launched a campaign to urge the Congress to postpone a bill aimed at slapping tougher sanctions against Iran over its nuclear energy program.

Democratic representatives Jim McDermott, John Conyers, Keith Ellison and Jim McGovern are collecting signatures for a letter to urge the House leadership to delay the scheduled Wednesday vote on H.R.850 bill which would tighten economic and diplomatic restrictions against Tehran.

The lawmakers say the sanction bill will jeopardize the White House’s new positive diplomacy regarding Iran following the June 14 election of Hassan Rohani as Iran’s next president.


“We believe that it would be counterproductive and irresponsible to vote on this measure before Iran's new president is inaugurated on August 4, 2013," the request reads.

Rohani won 50.7 percent of votes in the latest presidential election in Iran to secure an outright victory.

The letter underlines the importance of diplomatic channels as “the best possible means” for resolving the issues regarding Tehran’s nuclear energy program.

“The House of Representatives should not preempt a potential opportunity to secure such an outcome with another sanctions bill," the letter pointed out.

The letter also calls on the House to soften the language of the bill.

Earlier this month, 131 US lawmakers signed a letter to Obama, asking the White House to opt for diplomatic channels in dealing with Iran following the victory of Rohani.

The US, Israel and some of their allies falsely claim that Iran is pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program, with Washington and the European Union using the unfounded allegation as a pretext to impose illegal sanctions on Iran.

Tehran strongly rejects the claim over its nuclear energy activities, maintaining that as a committed signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
 

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