Politics iran nuclear weaponsDebbie Wasserman SchultzPolitics

Obama Urges Senate Democrats To Oppose Iran Sanctions In Closed-Door Meeting

Obama Urges Senate Democrats To Oppose Iran Sanctions
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Politics Social Media Editor, HuffPost

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WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama met with Senate Democrats at the White House on Wednesday, urging senators to oppose new sanctions against Iran, according to people at the meeting.

The president warned that new sanctions could derail the fragile nuclear talks, Senate aides briefed on the meeting said. Obama "made a really strong case for his position on Iran" in the hopes of giving "pause to anyone who wanted a vote while negotiations were ongoing," one of the aides said. After Obama made the case against sanctions, not a single supporter argued the opposite case, sources said.

Sanctions, included in a bill pushed by Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), would go into effect if Iran fails to meet certain conditions related to its nuclear program. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) said the president insisted that senators "seize this opportunity" to continue negotiations with Iran, before resorting to sanctions.

"If Iran isn't willing in the end to make the decisions that are necessary to make it work, he'll be ready to sign the bill to tighten those sanctions," Merkley told The Associated Press. "But we've got to give this six months."

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) met with House Democrats at the White House on Tuesday with a similar goal. A firm proponent of previous sanctions against Iran, Schultz insisted any new restrictions may jeopardize the fragile nuclear negotiations between the U.S., Iran and other nations.

"As her record reflects, she has always been and remains a staunch proponent of stricter sanctions against Iran as a deterrent to their nuclear weapons ambitions," Mara Sloan, Wasserman Schultz's spokeswoman, said in a statement following Tuesday's meeting. "Wasserman Schultz will continue working with her colleagues and the Administration to ensure that Iran will never achieve that goal."

During the Wednesday meeting with Senate Democrats, Obama also discussed his agenda for the year.

Obama "talked about how Democrats can win in 2014, and the issues to push -- minimum wage, education, immigration," a Senate source told HuffPost.

Ryan Grim and Sam Stein contributed reporting.

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Before You Go

Obama's Handshakes Around The World
Raul Castro, President Of Cuba(01 of30)
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In this image from TV, U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Cuban President Raul Castro at the FNB Stadium in Soweto, South Africa, in the rain for a memorial service for former South African President Nelson Mandela, Tuesday Dec. 10, 2013. (credit:AP Photo/SABC Pool)
Cristina Fernandez, President Of Argentina(02 of30)
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President Barack Obama meets with Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez at the G20 Summit in Cannes, France, Friday, Nov. 4, 2011. (credit:Charles Dharapak/AP Photo)
Hamid Karzai, President Of Afghanistan(03 of30)
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Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and U.S. President Barack Obama shake hands after a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House on Jan. 11, 2013 in Washington, D.C. (credit:Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Julia Gillard, Prime Minister Of Australia(04 of30)
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U.S. President Barack Obamaand Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard shake hands during a bilateral meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on Nov. 16, 2011. (credit:Jim Watson/Getty Images)
Dilma Rousseff, President Of Brazil(05 of30)
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U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Brazilian President Dilma Vana Rousseff during a joint press conference at Palacio do Planalto in Brasilia on March 19, 2011. (credit:Jim Watson/Getty Images)
Hun Sen, Prime Minister Of Cambodia(06 of30)
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U.S. President Barack Obama (L) and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (R) reach out to shake hands on arrival at the Peace Palace for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and US summit in Phnom Penh on Nov. 19, 2012 following the 21st ASEAN Leaders Summit. (credit:ROMEO GACAD/Getty Images)
Stephen Harper, Prime Minister Of Canada(07 of30)
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U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Canadas Prime Minister Stephen Harper in bilateral meeting during the G20 Summit, Tuesday, June 19, 2012, in Los Cabos, Mexico. (credit:Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)
Sebastian Pinera, President Of Chile(08 of30)
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U.S. President Barack Obama greets Chilean President Sebastian Pinera before a dinner at the Washington Convention Center during the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C., on April 12, 2010. (credit:Jewel Samad/Getty Images)
Xi Jinping, President Of China(09 of30)
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U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with then-Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping during meetings in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., Feb. 14, 2012. (credit:Saul Loeb/Getty Images)
Juan Manuel Santos, President Of Colombia(10 of30)
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Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos (R) and U.S. President Barack Obama shake hands during a joint press conference in the framework of the VI Summit of the Americas at Casa de Huespedes in Cartagena, Colombia, on April 15, 2012. (credit:Saul Loeb/Getty Images)
Laura Chinchilla, President Of Costa Rica(11 of30)
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President Barack Obama and Costa Rica's President Laura Chinchilla shake hands at the end of their joint press conference in San Jose, Costa Rica, Friday, May 3, 2013. (credit:Moises Castillo/AP Photo)
Francois Hollande, President Of France(12 of30)
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President Barack Obama shakes hands with French President Francois Hollande on arrival for the G8 Summit Friday, May 18, 2012 at Camp David, Maryland. (credit:Charles Dharapak/AP Photo)
Angela Merkel, Chancellor Of Germany(13 of30)
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U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with German Chancellor Angela Merkel after a joint press conference following their meeting in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 7, 2011. (credit:Jewel Samad/Getty Images)
Giorgio Napolitano, President Of Italy(14 of30)
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President Barack Obama shakes hands with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. (credit:Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo)
Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister Of Japan(15 of30)
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President Barack Obama shakes hands with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. (credit:Charles Dharapak/AP Photo)
Park Geu-Hye, President Of South Korea(16 of30)
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President Barack Obama and South Korea President Park Geun-Hye shake hands at the conclusion of their joint news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, May 7, 2013. (credit:Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo)
Enrique Pena Nieto, President Of Mexico(17 of30)
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President Barack Obama, left, and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto shake hands following a news conference at the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City, Thursday, May 2, 2013. (credit:Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo)
Benigno Aquino, President Of The Philippines(18 of30)
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U.S. President Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with President Benigno Aquino of the Philippines in the Oval Office at the White House on June 8, 2012 in Washington, D.C. (credit:Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Donald Tusk, Prime Minister Of Poland(19 of30)
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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk (R) shakes hands with U.S. President Barack Obama during their meeting in Warsaw on May 28, 2011. (credit:Janek Skarzynski/Getty Images)
Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Amir Of Qatar(20 of30)
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President Barack Obama shakes hands with Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 23, 2013. (credit:Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo)
Traian Basescu, President Of Romania(21 of30)
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U.S. President Barack Obama (R) greets Romania's President Traian Basescu before a dinner at the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Prague on April 8, 2010. (credit:Jewel Samad/Getty Images)
Vladimir Putin, President Of Russia(22 of30)
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President Barack Obama shakes hands with Russias President Vladimir Putin in a bilateral meeting during the G20 Summit, Monday, June 18, 2012, in Los Cabos, Mexico. (credit:Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King Of Saudi Arabia(23 of30)
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U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia during meetings in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., June 29, 2010. (credit:Saul Loeb/Getty Images)
Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister Of Singapore(24 of30)
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President Barack Obama shakes hands with with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April, 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) (credit:AP)
Fredrik Reinfeldt, Prime Minister Of Sweden(25 of30)
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U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt (L) during meetings in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, November 2, 2009. (credit:Saul Loeb/Getty Images)
Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister Of Thailand(26 of30)
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U.S. President Barack Obama, left, and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra shake hands following the conclusion of their joint news conference at Thai Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012. (credit:Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo)
Abdullah II, King Of Jordan(27 of30)
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In this March 22, 2013, file photo, President Barack Obama, left, and Jordan's King Abdullah II shake hands following their joint new conference at the King's Palace in Amman, Jordan. (credit:Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo)
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Of Turkey(28 of30)
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U.S. President Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan after their bilateral meeting in Seoul on March 25, 2012 on the eve of the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit. (credit:Jewel Samad/Getty Images)
David Cameron, Prime Minister Of Great Britain(29 of30)
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President Barack Obama shakes hands with Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron on arrival for the G8 Summit Friday, May 18, 2012 at Camp David, Maryland. (credit:Charles Dharapak/AP Photo)
Hugo Chavez, Former President Of Venezuela(30 of30)
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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (R) gives a book, The Open Veins of Latin America by Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano to U.S. President Barack Obama during a multilateral meeting to begin during the Summit of the Americas at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain, Trinidad, April 18, 2009. (credit:Jim Watson/Getty Images)
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