The United States should not lift sanctions against Iran as part of an emerging nuclear agreement, says Sen. Mark Kirk, co-sponsor of sanctions legislation against the Islamic Republic.

“Lately, Iran has tried to backtrack on the promises they made to President Obama,” the Republican of Illinois said during Saturday’s weekly GOP address, referring to an Iranian demand that all sanctions must immediately be lifted upon reaching a final nuclear accord.

Sen. Kirk claimed that the sanctions legislation he co-sponsored four years ago forced Iran back to the negotiating table. "This was probably the entire reason why the Iranians even showed up at the negotiations."

He said that the US must continue to use the threat of sanctions in order to prevent Iran from “getting nuclear weapons."

Right-wing elements in the Republican Party along with Israel and some of their allies accuse Iran of pursuing military objectives in its civilian nuclear program.

Iran rejects the allegation, arguing that as a committed signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

US President Barack Obama has conceded to GOP pressure to let Congress review a final nuclear deal with Iran.

According to the legislation drafted by Senators Bob Corker and Ben Cardin, Obama should submit the final nuclear deal for congressional review and he would not be allowed to lift sanctions, levied by Congress against Iran, during the review period.

Obama told a White House news conference on Friday that a new version of the bill is a “reasonable compromise” that would not impede the nuclear negotiations.

Iran and P5+1 group of countries - the US, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany - reached a mutual understanding on Tehran’s nuclear program on April 2 in Switzerland. The two sides are expected to start drafting a final deal which they seek to sign by the end of June.

By Press TV