JNS.org – Support among U.S. Senators for a new Iran sanctions bill has doubled since it was first proposed in December, rising to support by half the Senate.

A total of 50 U.S. Senators from across party lines now support the Nuclear Weapons Free Iran Act of 2013 introduced by Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ), the Jerusalem Post reported.

The bill says that Congress must certify Iran’s compliance to the interim nuclear deal every 30 days, and includes “prospective sanctions” that expand economic and financial restrictions on Iran’s energy and banking sections if Iran violates the deal. It also includes language requiring strong American action if Israel launches a pre-emptive strike on the Iran nuclear program.

However, at a press conference in December, White House spokesman Jay Carney said the bill could undermine diplomatic efforts underway with Iran and hinted that Obama would veto the bill if it landed on his desk.

“Passing new sanctions legislation now will undermine our efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution,” Carney said.