The US Senate has threatened to impose new sanctions on Iran next month, if no deal is reached during the ongoing nuclear talks in Geneva. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he backs the negotiations, but warns Iran could block any agreements without the threat of sanctions.

The House of Representatives passed additional sanctions against Iran in July with a view to ending all of its oil exports by 2015, and has been waiting for the Senate to act. But Obama up to now has convinced Reid and many other Senators to hold off on new sanctions.