(VOVworld) – US Secretary of State John Kerry has told US lawmakers any new sanctions against Iran would risk ruining talks over Tehran's nuclear program. He told a Senate banking committee on Wednesday that the US might lose its negotiating partner if it imposed economic penalties.

John Kerry: new Iran sanctions could adversely affect diplomacy Photo: internet

Mr. Kerry added this would push Iran to suspend negotiations due to internal disputes. He said the United States and other world powers are united behind an offer they presented to Iranian negotiators in Geneva last week. But he also said new action by US lawmakers could shatter an international coalition made up of countries with interests as diverse as France, Russia and China, endangering hopes for a peaceful end to the decade-long nuclear standoff with the Islamic Republic.