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QUESTION: On the Iran bill: Is the Administration at this point confident that there won’t be a vote in the Senate? And I know we visited this multiple times, but should a vote come to pass, is that, as the Iranians have said, a violation of the Joint Plan of Action, or is the full implementation of the Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act of 2013 a violation of the Joint Plan of Action?

MS. PSAKI: Well, I think the important point here, which I’ve made in the past, but I realize circumstances have changed a little bit – in favor of a no-vote, I should say – but it’s not just about what specific technical piece would violate. It’s about what message we’re sending during fragile negotiations with partners around the world who have also committed not to move forward with new sanctions legislation while we are about to approach comprehensive talks. So that’s why the Secretary, the President, and others have continued to make the case that we should not take action as it relates to putting new sanctions in place.

QUESTION: I understand it’s a messaging question --

MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm.

QUESTION: -- but is it also a technical question?

MS. PSAKI: It’s not just a messaging question. It’s a strategic question as it relates to the negotiations.

QUESTION: And the 42 senators in the Republican caucus who say that this is becoming a partisan issue, this issue that has consistently been a unifying --

MS. PSAKI: Mm-hmm.

QUESTION: -- force in the Senate, is that a concern to the Administration?

MS. PSAKI: It is – our view is it is not a partisan issue. It is about what is the best path forward, and that that’s the diplomatic path forward as it relates to Iran and our concerns about Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon. That’s why we think legislation, whomever supports it, whether it’s Democrats or Republicans, is not the right step.

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