“On a day when Iran has been attacked by ISIS, by terrorism, now is not the time to go forward with legislation calling for sanctions against Iran,” Bernie Sanders said in a statement. | Getty Sanders, Feinstein call for delay in Iran sanctions vote after Tehran attack

A pair of lawmakers called for the Senate to delay voting on imposing sanctions on Iran Wednesday after the country was hit by a terrorist attack that killed 12 people and left more than 40 injured.

Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) issued statements saying now is the wrong time to vote on the sanctions, which are aimed at punishing Tehran for its human rights violations and its support of terrorist-designated groups.


“On a day when Iran has been attacked by ISIS, by terrorism, now is not the time to go forward with legislation calling for sanctions against Iran,” Sanders said in a statement. “Today when they are mourning, when they are dealing with the shock of a terrorist attack, today is not the day to go forward with this piece of legislation."

His comments were echoed by Feinstein, who said Iran “suffered from two significant terrorist attacks after electing a moderate government with 57 percent of the vote—we need to give Iran the opportunity to recover and set a new course.”

The Islamic State took credit for the attack on the parliament and Ayatollah Khomeini’s mausoleum in Tehran Wednesday.

State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert also issued a statement Wednesday condemning the attack.

“We express our condolences to the victims and their families, and send our thoughts and prayers to the people of Iran,” read the statement. “The depravity of terrorism has no place in a peaceful, civilized world.”

