WASHINGTON — By a veto-proof margin of 90 to 4, the Senate approved legislation Friday to impose new sanctions on Russian businesses and other organizations selling sensitive missile technology to Iran.
Senate passage of the sanctions, which already have been endorsed by the House, came despite a warning from the Clinton administration that the bill could torpedo diplomatic efforts to stop the missile trade--just as they are beginning to pay off.
The vote was the third rebuke by Congress in as many days to the administration's conduct of foreign policy. But this one, unlike the others, is not linked to the campaign finance controversy, and it points to a widening gulf between the White House and the Republican-controlled Congress over the nation's diplomatic priorities.
The bill would punish governments, businesses, universities, technical institutes and other organizations assisting Iran's missile program. Although Russia is not named in the legislation, supporters said all of the suspect companies are based there.
Supporters of the bill said that with Russian technical assistance, Iran expects to produce a missile by the end of this year that could imperil targets as far away as Israel; Iran, by the end of the century, may have a missile that is able to hit cities in Europe.
The White House said the bill would interfere with administration efforts to persuade the Russian government to strengthen its laws against missile proliferation and would damage Washington-Moscow relations across the board.
Officials said the use of unilateral sanctions by the United States would anger Western European nations and upset attempts to enlist the European Union to help stop the sale of missile technology to Tehran.
But Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) said the White House seems unwilling to take effective steps to prevent missile proliferation. "The administration has refused to make sanctions decisions required by existing law," Lott said.
The bill was sent back to the House, which passed it in November on a voice vote, for consideration of a Senate amendment. It is expected to reach the White House shortly after Congress returns from its Memorial Day recess.
Although President Clinton has vowed to veto it, an override appears certain.
