U.S. congressmen press Iran sanctions bill

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http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N08483570.htm

U.S. congressmen press Iran sanctions bill

WASHINGTON, March 8 (Reuters) - Key U.S. congressmen on Wednesday said they would push forward with legislation imposing mandatory sanctions on foreign firms working in Iran, despite administration concerns the bill could split the international coalition against Iran's nuclear programs.

As the United States and its allies prepared to take Iran's case to the U.N. Security Council -- which could eventually consider penalties on Tehran -- some lawmakers complained that Washington needs to be more aggressive in confronting the "threat" posed by Iran's pursuit of nuclear technology.

Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns told the U.S. House of Representatives International Relations Committee the Security Council would begin debate on Iran next Monday and Tuesday and gradually escalate pressure if Tehran refused to halt uranium enrichment activities.

But Rep. Thomas Lantos of California, the panel's senior Democrat, insisted "Iran's quest for nuclear arms requires us to do two things: squeeze Iran's economy as much as possible and do so without delay."