The Iran Sanctions Act bill includes penalties against Iran's banking sector, as well as its energy and defense industries (AFP Photo/Alex Wong)

Washington (AFP) - The US Senate on Thursday approved a 10-year extension of sanctions against Iran, a bipartisan measure that would have expired at year's end but now goes to President Barack Obama's desk. Earlier in November, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, warned that, “Definitely, the Islamic Republic of Iran will react” if the U.S. sanctions were renewed. Extending the sanctions "ensures President-elect Trump and his administration have the tools necessary to push back against the regime's hostile actions," said Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Corker, who Trump has been considering as a possible pick for secretary of state. Responding to the US Senate vote, Iran had on Friday threatened to retaliate, saying the extension of Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) violated last year's deal with six major powers that curbed its nuclear program.
The United States Senate votes 99–0 in favor of a ten-year extension of the Iran Sanctions Act, the measure will now be sent to President Barack Obama to sign into law. The act was due to expire on December 31, 2016, if not renewed.