The White House on Thursday blocked Congress from passing new sanctions against Iran, at least through the end of the year. Lawmakers in the House and Senate will not vote on new sanctions this year, following a White House campaign to stall legislative action for at least six months while the U.S. and other nations negotiate a comprehensive deal over Tehran’s nuclear program. Congress could return next year and adopt new sanctions, but the delay in a vote has bought the White House more time to make its case amid political pressure over President Barack Obama’s gamble to pursue diplomacy with Iran. As important, more Democrats have fallen in line behind Mr. Obama’s diplomacy, making it less likely they will help advance legislation undermining the Iran talks. In a bid to reduce opposition to an interim deal reached last month between world powers and Iran, the administration blacklisted more […]