IRNA – White House spokesman Josh Earnest says the US President's signing the bill on extension of Iran's Sanctions Act will be pending on investigations and studies.

'We'll take a look at what bill is passed and determine whether or not the President will sign it,' Earnest said when asked on extension of the Iran Sanctions Act.

The remark by Earnest at his weekly press briefing showed implicitly that there will be the possibility that the US President Barack Obama will veto the decision.

He made the remark in response to reporters who asked about Senate Majority Leader McConnell's that the Senate is going to vote on the 1996 Iran Sanctions Act this week and the possibility that President Obama would veto that bill if it reached his desk.

He said the US President and administration continued to retain substantial authorities that can be used to impose new sanctions on Iran and has used the authority several times.

'… as we have said on a number of occasions, the administration continues to retain substantial authorities that can be used to impose financial sanctions … There are a variety of reasons why we would want to do that.'

The White House spokesman cited the reasons as Iran missile program, which he claimed are inconsistent with UN Security Council resolutions; direct evidence of the Iranians sponsoring terrorism; and ample evidence that the Iranians aren't living up to generally accepted norms when it comes to protecting the basic universal human rights.

'So I would avoid reading in too much -- reading too much into my comments about whether or not the President will sign it. We'll see what Congress passes, if they pass something. And we'll let you know if the President intends to sign it.'

Then a reporter turned to Earnest, asking, 'It sounds like you think this legislation is unnecessary. Is that correct?'

Earnest declined to provide an explicit response and said, 'Well, there are plenty of times where the President has signed into law bills that Congress has passed that we're not sure are entirely necessary. So I would avoid reading in too much -- reading too much into my comments about whether or not the President will sign it. We'll see what Congress passes, if they pass something. And we'll let you know if the President intends to sign it.'