Rand Paul blocks Iran sanctions bill

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) blocked an effort Tuesday to quickly pass a bipartisan bill imposing tough sanctions on Iran, demanding that Congress make clear that the United States is not rushing into another war.

"Our young men and women, our soldiers, deserve thoughtful debate," Paul, the tea party freshman with libertarian leanings, said on the floor. "Before sending our young men and women into combat, we should have a mature and thoughtful debate over the ramifications of war, over the advisability of war and over the objectives of war."

Paul wants Senate Democrats to allow a vote on his amendment that says that nothing in the measure "shall be construed as a declaration of war or an authorization of use of force against Iran or Syria."

The bill at issue sailed through the Senate Banking Committee last month and the House has already passed its version of Iran sanctions legislation. It would give the administration new authority to pressure Iran over its nuclear program, including by requiring firms traded on the U.S. stock exchanges to disclose any Iran-related activities and penalize U.S. parent companies whose subsidiaries have ties to the country.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who tried to quickly pass the measure on Tuesday, protested Paul's decision to stand in the way.

"I really am terribly disappointed," Reid said on the floor. "There's nothing in the resolution that talks about war. In fact, it's quite to the contrary. ... I read the Constitution a few times. My friend says he wants to restate the Constitution. That's a strange version he just stated."

Reid now can decide to file cloture to overcome the senator's objection with 60 votes, or he can cut a deal and allow the Paul amendment to be considered by the body.